hichiriki; small double-reed wind instrument used in gagaku
A traditional Japanese double-reed instrument made of bamboo, with seven finger holes on the front and two on the back. It is a key melodic instrument in gagaku (court music).
See also: 雅楽 (ががく)
In gagaku, the hichiriki often carries the main melody.
The tone of the hichiriki has a distinctive, plaintive quality.
Standard kanji spelling for this traditional instrument.
Kana spelling is common in explanatory texts and for learners.
The word ひちりき is thought to derive from the Chinese name for a similar instrument, though the exact derivation is uncertain. The kanji 篳篥 are used phonetically to represent the name.