Hichiriki

A hichiriki on display at the Metropolitan Museum

• Japanese: 篳篥 (hichiriki)

The hichiriki is a type of Japanese flute used typically in gagaku (classical court music) and bugaku (classical court dance). It is typically made of bamboo, with a double reed, and seven holes on one side, with two on the reverse.

Sometimes classified as a shawm, the hichiriki is said to have "an unusual reverse conical bore which narrows at the open end." It is used in both gagaku and bugaku to play the melody lines alongside the ryûteki.

References

• Gallery labels, Musical Instruments gallery, Metropolitan Museum.