Traditionally, music is considered a celebration of the Divine, and musical instruments as the messengers—the sacred tools—relaying the Divine word.
No matter what ethnicity or race, or what part of the world one may be from, everyone seems to understand the feelings that the universal language of music communicates. For instance, in ancient China—ages before the communist regime came into power—scholars and wise men used music to guide people’s emotions in a positive direction and uplift their moral character, bringing them closer to the Lord Creator.
It is interesting to know that the traditional Chinese character for happiness (樂, Lè) is similar to the character for music (樂, Yuè). Also, music and medicine have an integral connection, according to ancient Chinese thought. With calming music known for its healing properties since the early Chinese civilization, the character for “medicine” (藥, Yào) was derived from the word music, with the radical for “grass” or herbs (艹, Cǎo) at the top.
Since the remote past, human beings have been making use of diverse musical instruments—humble or sophisticated—in a myriad of social and cultural contexts. They also serve the sacred role of connecting people to the heavenly realms when they are played with a devout, pious heart; this makes music not only an art form but also a means to spirituality and a way to discover and worship God.
1. Temple Block
The temple block, or “muyu” (木魚, wooden fish) in Chinese, is a traditional Chinese percussion instrument often used in Buddhist religious ceremonies. Originally, temple blocks were crafted in the form of a fish with the mouth open, symbolizing the watchfulness of a fish and reminding people to be mindful and awake. Nowadays, they’re also created as a series of rectangular-shaped blocks that are placed in ascending pitch; a wooden mallet is used to strike the blocks to create various tones.
2. Trumpet
Known for its significant musical presence, the trumpet is not only one of the oldest instruments known to the world but also has been cited several times in the Bible. The Book of Revelation mentions seven trumpets, where the sounding of the first six trumpets signifies the power of repentance for humankind; the seventh trumpet signals the arrival of the Lord Creator and His eternal reign over the human world.
3. Bell
In traditional cultures, the auspicious sound produced by the ringing of a bell—big or small—signifies the beginning and end of an important event.
4. Erhu
5. Lyre
An ancient form of lyre has been mentioned in the Old Testament as the musical instrument of David, who helped King Saul with his music’s divine therapeutic, soothing effect.
6. Buk Drum
Buk drums have been used in Korean cultural music since ancient times, dating back to the era of the Three Kingdoms of Korea (57 B.C.–A.D. 668). Both sides of the buk drums are traditionally painted with the yin-yang symbol, while the wooden barrel body is colored with vibrant drawings of heavenly dragons.
7. Shakuhachi
The shakuhachi is a traditional Japanese end-blow flute that is usually made from the root of the bamboo. Originally used for meditative purposes, shakuhachi music was linked to personal spiritual enlightenment rather than public performances. However, now it is also played in musical concerts.
8. Shankh
A wind instrument that is made of the conch shell, the shankh, plays a very important role in Indian religious ceremonies. In Indian culture, shankh signifies the might of gods and the triumph of good over evil.
9. Oud
The oud is a prominent Arabic instrument that is helping keep ancient traditions alive. It is a fretless stringed instrument with a short neck and pear-shaped body. It has played a significant role in Arabic culture and has appeared in many historic studies.
10. Mridangam
The mridangam (“clay body” in Sanskrit) is a double-sided drum that is played with the fingers and both palms of the hands. In some parts of India, it is also considered an instrument of the gods.
Originally, it was created from clay, but now it is made from a single block of wood. The exact origin of the mridangam is unknown; however, it is seen in several ancient architectures and paintings. In ancient Southern India, the mridangam was one of the main percussion instruments that announced the beginning of the war, as it was thought that its holy sound would shield the King and his army.