Jinghu

A jinghu on display at the Metropolitan Museum

• Chinese/Japanese: 京胡 (jīng hú / kyouko)

The jinghu, or "capital fiddle," is a type of huqin or spiked fiddle typically played in jingju (Beijing opera) alongside the erhu and other instruments.

Up until the 19th century, the term jinghu was used interchangeably with huqin, but today it refers more specifically to a particular type of fiddle, used as the main melodic instrument in the opera, and especially in accompanying male roles.

References

• Gallery labels, "Beijing Opera Orchestra," Musical Instruments gallery, Metropolitan Museum of Art.