Bronze drums such as these are an ancient Chinese musical instrument used in both temple and folk ceremonies, both on their own or in the company of other instruments. Records tell of the introduction of bronze drums into China from the border kingdom of Jingchu. They caught on and were part of palace orchestras as early as China’s Spring and Autumn Period (770 – 476 BC).

In ‘Records of the Historian’, author Sima Qian depicts King Zhuang of Chu ‘sitting between bell-drums, embracing mistress Zheng on his left and a girl from Yue on his right.’ In his epic ‘Sir Vacuous’, Sima Xiangru (179 – 117 BC) wrote, “The King of Chu has metal drums struck and flutes played to signal the start of song and merriment.” Such references attest to the long history of the drum in the pantheon of Chinese musical instruments.

After their introduction in the north, metal drums gradually made their way into southern China, where they compared well with traditional drums with leather coverings that decayed easily in southern humidity. By the time bronze drums were known throughout the south, they had also been widely adopted as a strategic tool - used to rally troops, strike fear into the hearts of enemy forces and transmit military communications. Nankunshen’s bronze drum has a head diameter of 60cm and measures 46 cm in height. The drum has a leather covering and is rumored to have arrived in Taiwan with the Five Lords on their boat.