What does the rattle represent?

The rattle is one of the most traditional and oldest toys in China.

When it comes to the creation of the rattle, it has a long history. The production of rattles certainly after the drum, as early as in the Neolithic period in the colored pottery, has been found suspected of drums of the artifacts. 1978 in Hubei Suixian drum pier unearthed in the Warring States period of the bronze seat built drums, the base inserted a column, the column in the center of the drums, drums, drums, the body of the long-shaped, wooden, similar to today's waist drums. The form of this drum is very similar to a huge rattle, but not installed double ears. During the Warring States period, there is also a "frame drum", the drum body is extremely flat, both sides of the drum skin, drum skin with two rows of interlocking drum nails fixed, similar to the modern "big drum book" rapper used drums. The body of the drum is hung on the drum frame by three metal rings. The frame is finished with lacquered wood carvings, with a double phoenix picking up the drum body from the back, and a double tiger at the base with its back turned toward it. The appearance of these drums provided the basis for the creation of the rattle drum.

The earliest rattle drums were called "rattle drums". The rattle produced during the Warring States period was used as a percussion instrument, and it relied on the sound made by the ears when shaking, and it was not easy to control the rhythmic weight, the pitch of the sound, and the size of the sound, so it could not complete the complex drum beats satisfactorily and accurately.

Development to the Song Dynasty rattles have appeared in three areas, one is the rites and music; the second is the commercial use; the third is children's toys. Rituals and music have included rattle drums throughout the ages, and the Song Dynasty was certainly no exception. Commercial use refers to the "cargo drums", the folk cargo usually hold a rattle to attract customers. At the same time, rattles also became a favorite toy for children. In the Southern Song Dynasty, Li Song's "Cargo Figure", we can see the painting of the rattle, modeling is quite elaborate, the drum handle made of gourd handle, drum shape such as a jar, the ears are more special, similar to the leather strip, holding the handle shaking, the leather strips beat the drum surface sound. There are also "four rattles" by four small gradually larger drums, one by one stacked on top of each other, turn 90 degrees between each other. Each drum has its own ears made of pellets, and there is a smooth and delicate handle under the drum. Generally speaking, the larger the drum surface, the more subdued the pronunciation, and vice versa, the more high-pitched the pronunciation. The four snare drums here are of different sizes, and they sound together when shaken. According to this picture, people nowadays copy this kind of cargo drum, shaking the sound, high and low staggered, ding dong pleasant to the ear.

Old title of the Southern Song Dynasty Su Hanchen made the "Five Rui Figure" even more wonderful rattle drums can be viewed. Five children or wearing masks, or painted face, gathered to perform a large Nuo dance, one of the hands each holding a rattle. Right hand drum raised to the forehead left finger; left hand drum from the chest right finger. Two rattles are the same, are two drums. The upper snare drum is flat and round; the lower drum is long and similar to a waist drum. The surface of the drum is painted with floral motifs; the body of the long drum is inlaid with small flowers in copper, which is unprecedented in its delicacy and beauty.

The rattle this toy has been widely spread, the main sound effects and entertainment effects **** with the role played. As the yell of the seller to have a tone of voice, rattle can play a rich change of sound, can attract attention; modeling features and enhance the ornamental, even if it is the hand of the practical rattle also inevitably has the entertainment color, in the solicitation of customers always embodies a cheerful, relaxed and beautiful temperament.

Divided from the form, the rattle drum can be roughly divided into two kinds, a drum with painted decoration, such as Henan Huaiyang, Jiangsu Yancheng, Beijing and other places of the rattle drum, are depicted on the drum skin of the various colors of flowers; the second is in the body of the drum with painted, along the body of a week of flowers. These decorations add to the aesthetic characteristics of the rattle drum and visually enhance the entertainment features of this toy. Drum surface material to cowhide, sheepskin is the most common, followed by snakeskin, leather paper, oil paper variety. Drum body is mostly wooden, however, in recent years have seen plastic drums. Drum ear is the most common glass beads, followed by Coix lacryma, sour jujube kernel, wooden beads, porcelain beads and other materials to make the double ear.

On the name of the rattlesnake, through the ages, different places are not the same, in general, there are rattle, rattle drum, rattle drum, wave drums, sowing Lang drums, Bo Lang drums, shaking Gudong, snare drums and so on. In fact, many of the above names, all because of the different ways of writing, similar pronunciation, take the word is not the same. But now it seems that the name "rattle drum" is the most popular.

Throughout the rattle's history, since the pre-Qin period rattle drums were born until today, rattles the form of this instrument and toys actually did not change. The rattles in paintings and patterns through the ages are mostly similar to those of today. A toy after more than two thousand years of circulation, do not change the original type, it is incredible.