Fangxing Gu - Chinese Secret Society Drum

A very rare and unusual drum found in the wall of a building being remodelled in the "Chinatown" region of Vancouver. Local people questioned about the drum say they cannot talk of it, suggesting that it may have belonged to one of the local Chinese secret societies. The drum itself is made of a very solid wood frame with central cross bracing. It is secured with a couple of square nails and the skin is fastened with tacs. The highly detailed painted design is of two dragons. The stand is newer than the drum.References cannot be found of similar rectangular Chinese drums, however, there were drums almost identical in size and shape, but without a painted hide, used in Japanese archery competitions.

Country: China
Region: Asia
Type: drum