Surviving examples of 18th century Ryukyuan instruments in [[Tokugawa Art Museum|Tokugawa]] collections include flutes of varying lengths, each of them made of a length of bamboo, with black [[lacquer]]ed buffalo horn fittings at either end. Each has nine finger holes on the top of the instrument (plus the mouthpiece), and two on the bottom, plus another two where a tassel could be strung for purely decorative purposes. Each is bound in twenty-four places with string coated in lacquer and [[gold leaf]]. | Surviving examples of 18th century Ryukyuan instruments in [[Tokugawa Art Museum|Tokugawa]] collections include flutes of varying lengths, each of them made of a length of bamboo, with black [[lacquer]]ed buffalo horn fittings at either end. Each has nine finger holes on the top of the instrument (plus the mouthpiece), and two on the bottom, plus another two where a tassel could be strung for purely decorative purposes. Each is bound in twenty-four places with string coated in lacquer and [[gold leaf]]. |