1. Understanding asian mouth-organ
Beta version 1.2
Junichi USUI
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
15th December, 2019

2. Contents
• 1. Overview to asian mouth-organ
• 2. Mystery of asian mouth-organ
• 3. List of asian mouth-organ(imcompleted)
– 3-1. Gourd mouth-organ
• From golden triangle
• From Inland South East Asia
• From Island South East Asia
– 3-2. H’mong khen
– 3-3. Morlam khaen
• 4. References
Understanding asian mouth-organ 2

3. OVERVIEW TO ASIAN MOUTH-
ORGAN
Understanding asian mouth-organ
Understanding asian mouth-organ 3

4. What is asian mouth-organ?
Understanding asian mouth-organ 4
• Asian mouth-organ is a music instrument, which can be found through East Asia to
South East Asia and some region of India and Bangladesh.
• All are using free-reed technology to make sound.
• It is estimated this is one of ancient music instrument from BC periods.

5. Asian mouth-organ at various places
Understanding asian mouth-organ 5
Dongson bronze drum on Vietnam on BC
periods.
Keledi appears on wall relief of Borobudur
from Indonesia around 9th century.
Sho appears on old sculpture from Japan 11th
century.
Mouth-organ used to exist in Iran arrived from
silkroad around 10th century.

6. Influence of asian mouth-organ
Understanding asian mouth-organ 6
• Later, free-reed technology of asian mouth-organ was started to get used in
Western music instruments such as accordion, harmonica, concerteena.
• In this document, we don’t refer free-reed technology itself.

7. East Asia’s mouth-organ
Understanding asian mouth-organ 7
• When Chinese came to Dian kingdom(current Yunnan), Chinese started to copy gourd
mouth-organs there. After modification by Chinese, it became Sheng in Tang period, then it
was imported to Korea and Japan.
• To play in court music, those materials became more classy. Also those pitch should be
certain to play with other instruments, this is why the author call these “Fine craft model”. In
this documentation, we rather to see about folk mouth-organs, not these types.
Sheng, China Sho, JapanSaenghwang, Korea

8. Distribution of asian mouth-organ
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• South East Asia, especially hilly area from South China to North Laos is the best region to have
most numbers of mouth-organ.
• Some parts of India, Bangladesh have mouth-organ.
• East Asia has mouth-organ but only advanced models(Fine craft models).

9. Region list by availability of mouth-organ.
– Where mouth-organ still exist
• Sabah, Malaysian Borneo
• West Borneo
• North Vietnam
• Central Vietnam
• Laos
• North East Thailand
• East Myanmar
• South China
• India
• Bangladesh
– Where mouth-organ used to exist (but disappeared today)
• Sarawak, West Borneo
• Java, Indonesia
• Iran
– Where mouth-organ did not exist
• Cambodia flatland
• Malaysia mainland
• Sulawesi
• Bali
• Smatera
• Taiwan hill area
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10. Common points of asian mouth-organ
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• Common points of this music instruments is as following.
– Using free-reed technology to make sound
– It has several pipes having individual free-reed to make different note
– It has a body to pool air to send compressed-air to free-reed of each pipe

11. Common free-reed from each mouth-organ
Understanding asian mouth-organ 11
• Sho(Japan) and Sheng(Taiwan) • Sarakel(Central Vietnam)
• Khaen(North East Thailand) • Hulusheng(Yunnan, South China)

12. Other free-reed instruments
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• Bawu is a free-reed flute which is used from South China to North Vietnam.
• Pi Phuthai is a free-reed flute from North East Thailand, whose scale is pentatonic.
• Kipah is a horn-shaped free-reed instrument from Central and South Vietnam, North East Cambodia and East
Myanmar.
• Taktak is a 1 pipe free-reed instrument from Central Vietnam.
• Hulusi is an gourd instrument whose side 2 pipes to make drone to accompany main melody from center 1 pipe.
This is used from South China to North Vietnam.
Bawu Pi Phutai
Kipah
Taktak
Hulusi

13. MISYTERY OF ASIAN MOUTH-
ORGAN
Understanding asian mouth-organ
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14. Difficulty to explain their distribution
It is still a puzzle to explain current distribution of mouth-organ,
because following view-point can not work well with this topic.
– Today’s border?
• It can be found in China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysian Borneo, Myanmar,
Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Bangladesh.
– Religious influence?
• It can be found in Christian region(Malaysian Borneo), Confucius and Buddhism
region(China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan), Buddism region(Thailand, Cambodia, Laos), Islam
region(Java and West Kalimantan from Indonesia, Bangladesh), Hindu region(India)
– Former kingdom?
• It can not be described by past nations through Maritime South East Asia as Majapahit,
Sriwijaya, Kutai, Champa, Sultanate of Ternate, Malacca sulatnese, Funan.
– Trader?
• If it was by Chinese, it should be found in every China town today.
• If it was by Middle East, it should be found in Middle East countries today.
• If it was by India, it should be found in India today.
– Land form?
• Both hilly area(South China, North Vietnam) and flat area(Central Vietnam) both have it.
– Georaphy?
• It can be found across Mekong river, but found in Malaysian Borneo and Java, Indonesia,
also some parts of India.
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15. Grouping mouth-organ by shape
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Gourd body model Wood body model with horizontal pipes
Wood body model with verical pipes Fine craft model

16. Grouping mouth-organ by shape
• Gourd body model
– Kadedek(Indonesia), Sompoton(Malaysian Borneo),
Hulusheng(South China), Central Vietnam, Cambodia,
Myanmar, India
• Wood body model with horizontal pipes
– Qeej(Khen) from H’mong people(Miao people)
• Wood body model with verical pipes
– Khaen from Laos, Thailand, Some parts of Vietnam,
Cambodia, Myanmar
• Fine craft model
– Sheng(China), Saeng hwang(Korea), Sho(Japan)
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17. Grouping by language group
• Gourd body model
– Austroasia group (Inland South East Asia)
• Central Vietnam, Cambodia
– Austonesia group (Island South East Asia)
• Kadedek(Indonesia), Sompoton(Malaysian Borneo), Central Vietnam
– Sino Tibetan language group (Golden triangle)
• Hulusheng(South China), Myanmar, India, Bangladesh
• Wood body with horizontal pipes
– H’mong-Mien language group
• Qeej(Khen) from H’mong people(Miao people)
• Wood body with verical pipes
– Tai-Kadai language group
• Khaen from Laos, Thailand, Some parts of Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar
• Fine craft model
– Han character language group
• Sheng(China), Saeng hwang(Korea), Sho(Japan)
Understanding asian mouth-organ 17

18. LIST OF ASIAN MOUTH-ORGAN(IMCOMPLETED)
GOURD MOUTH-ORGAN > GOLDEN TRIANGLE
Understanding asian mouth-organ
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19. Hulusheng
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• Hulusheng(means ‘Gourd sheng’ in Chinese) is mouth-organ from Yunnan and Guangxi
province, South China. This is owned by many indigenous people there such as Lisu,
Yi(Lolo), Akha(Hani), Lahu. Most of their language belong to Sino-Tibetan language.
• Nowdays, this is used for personal amusement and ceremony, it is oftern performed
with dance too.

20. Hulusheng detail
• Body: Gourd
• Reed: Bamboo
• Pipes: 6 pipes in round
• Technique: Closing
bottom of pipes to
make its pitch lower.
• Small resonator is
attached on pipe, which
is made by gourd
Understanding asian mouth-organ 20
• Hulusheng is made by local craftworker with other craft products.
• There are size variation according to size of gourd.
• This is the sole mouth-organ for player closing bottom of pipes frequetly to change pitch.
• The other name is Maniu(Lisu), Huersi(Yi).

21. Gourd mouth-organ from Myanmar
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• In today’s Myanmar, mouth-organ is never founrd in Burmase people.
• Naga people(North Myanmar) has gourd mouth-organ.
• Karen people(South East Myanmar) has Khaen.

22. Mouth-organs from India, Bangladesh
Understanding asian mouth-organ 22
• For India, some indigenous people have mouth-organ as following.
– Gosem by Kuki people, Rawchem by Mizo people, Ujuk Tapu by Adi people
• For Bangladesh, Mrung(Mru) people have mouth-organ called “Ploong”.
– Their mouth-organ playing style is very unique for that many people play simple phrase together.
All of these people speaks language belonging to Sino Tibetan language
Adi people Kuki and Mizo people
IndiaMrung people Mrung people

23. LIST OF ASIAN MOUTH-ORGAN(IMCOMPLETED)
GOURD MOUTH-ORGAN > INLAND SOUTH EAST
ASIA
Understanding asian mouth-organ
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24. Đing Năm
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• Đing Năm is made by Ê Đê people, they live in Central Vietnam and speak Ê Đê
language belonging to Malayo-Poynesian group of Austronesian language.
• This is played for amusement, sometimes for ritual and ceremony.
• This often accompanies Ê Đê people’s folk singing called ‘Ay ray’.

25. Đing Năm detail
• Body: Gourd
• Reed: Rotan
• Pipes: Front 3, back 3 in
horizontal row. Total 6
pipes
• Technique: Tril sound by
tonguing is used
frequently.
Understanding asian mouth-organ 25
• Đing Năm is made by local craftworker with other music instruments.
• Gourd is biggest and bamboo pipe is thickest among gourd mouth-organ.
• Ê Đê also have many free-reed instruments such as Taktak, Kipah.

26. Sarakel
Understanding asian mouth-organ 26
• Sarakel is made by Raglai people, they live in Central Vietnam and speak
Raglai language belonging to Malayo-Poynesian group of Austronesian
language.
• This is played for amusement, sometimes ritual and ceremony.

27. Sarakel detail
• Body: Gourd
• Reed: Metal
• Pipes: Front 4, back 2,
in horizontal row.
Total 6 pipes
• Technique: To played
by chordal sound with
many ornaments, not
single melody.
Understanding asian mouth-organ 27
• Sarakel is made by local craftworker with other music instruments and
craft products such as bamboo cage.
• This shape is same with mouth-organ from other indigenous people such
as Mạ, Chu Ru, K’Ho, Bunong.

28. Gourd mouth-organ from Cambodia
Understanding asian mouth-organ 28
• Upper: Bunong people (North East hill area) has mouth-organ called “Mbuat”
• Lower: Pearic people (West hill area) has mouth-organ called “Ploy”

29. Other gourd mouth-organs from Inland South East Asia
Understanding asian mouth-organ 29
• Gourd mouth-organ can be found among indigenous people across Central Vietnam to South
Vietnam and North East Cambodia, those shape is same as Sarakel from Raglai people for
having 4 pipes on front, 2 pipes on back thus this shape can be most original model of
mouth-organ of Inland South East Asia.
Churu people
Mạ people M’nông people
Xtiêng people

30. LIST OF ASIAN MOUTH-ORGAN(IMCOMPLETED)
GOURD MOUTH-ORGAN > ISLAND SOUTH EAST
ASIA
Understanding asian mouth-organ
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31. Kadedek
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• Kadedek is mouth-organ from West Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo, now only
made by Pak Bunau(Mr), Kebahant people from Sintang province, W Kalimantan.
• Nowadays, this is played as solo instrument for amusement, but it is thought to be
played for ceremony before.

32. Kadedek detail
• Body: Gourd
• Reed: Rotan
• Pipes: 5 pipes in rounds
• Resonator: attached
• Blowpoint is rounded
• Small resonator is
attached on pipe, which
is made by gourd
Understanding asian mouth-organ 32
• There are size variation from small(50cm) to large(1.7m) as the note becoming lower.
• This is similar to an another mouth-organ called Engkerurai (other name:Keluri), which
used to exist on West Sarawak. Near from Sintang province, there is the place called
“Engkurai”.

33. Sompoton
Understanding asian mouth-organ 33
• Sompoton is mouth-organ from North Borneo, mainly played by Kadazan-Dusun people,
they speak Dusun language belonging to Malayo-Poynesian group of Austronesian
language.
• This is played as solo instrument only for amusement, never for ceremony.

34. Sompoton detail
• Body: Gourd
• Reed: Rotan
• Pipes: Left 4, right 4 in
vertical row. Total 8
pipes.
• Technique: Closing top
of pipe by finger to
mute that sound.
Understanding asian mouth-organ 34
• Sompoton is made by craftworker with other products such as bamboo cage.
• There are size variation from small(20cm) to large(1m) as the note becoming lower.
• This instrument can be held horizontally to ground to close pipe when the body is large.

35. Other gourd mouth-organs from Island South East Asia
Understanding asian mouth-organ 35
• Left and Left up: Sarawak(Malaysian Borneo) used to have mouth-organ called Engkerurai
(other name: Keluri, Klerdi), but it is totally disappeard recently. Now we can see it on book
or video or museum.
• Right Bottom: East Kalimantan(Indonesian Borneo) still have mouth-organ called Kadire
These models can be ansector of Keledi on Borobudur, Java.
Churu people
Mạ people KadireEngkrurai
Engkrurai

36. LIST OF ASIAN MOUTH-ORGAN(IMCOMPLETED)
MOUTH-ORGAN > H’MONG KHEN
Understanding asian mouth-organ
Understanding asian mouth-organ 36

37. Qeej
Understanding asian mouth-organ 37
• Qeej is made by H’mong people, they live in South China, North Vietnam, Laos and Thai, they
speak H’mong language belonging to H’mong-Mien language.
• “Qeej” is from H’mong language whose pronounce is actually “Khen”. Other name is Khèn(in
Vietnamese), Lusheng(in Chinese).
• In funeral, H’mong man performs this instrument with dance to send ghost to the next world.
This dance competition contest is often held during H’mong people.

38. Qeej detail
• Body: Wood block
• Reed: Metal
• Pipes: Left 3, right 3 in
vertical row. Total 6
pipes
• Special technique:
Should be played with
dance.
Understanding asian mouth-organ 38
• Qeej is made by local craftworker, but those numbers are now quite few in
Vietnam.
• Blow point is far longer than other mouth-organs
• Shape of pipes (straight or curving) and melodic scale can be different by region.

39. Qeej(modern) detail
Understanding asian mouth-organ 39
• H’mong in West Thailland started to make PCB-body and alminum-
pipe model from 2002 around for stronger body, then now this
model is popular among H’mong people in Thailand.

40. LIST OF ASIAN MOUTH-ORGAN(IMCOMPLETED)
MOUTH-ORGAN > MORLAM KHAEN
Understanding asian mouth-organ
Understanding asian mouth-organ 40

41. Khaen
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• Khaen is mostly found in Laos and North East Thailand(Isan) with music called
Morlam(Molam), local singing and poetry. This can be played as solo instrument, also to
accompany other instruments. Plural khaen player can play together.
• Since gourd body model exist in Laos(photo:bottom down), originally it might be using gourd
body with natural element free-reed.

42. Khaen detail
• Body: Wood
• Reed: Metal
• Pipes: Left 7, right 7 in
vertical row. Total 14
pipes
• Technique: In Isan, they
sound octave notes
together to make sound
stronger.
Understanding asian mouth-organ 42
• In North East Thailand, it is made by craftworker (There is a village of craftworker
in North East Thailand)
• By using metal free-reed, this can have finer pitch and louder sound than natural
element reed. This becomes advantage to play with other instruments, and to
sound octave notes together.

43. Other Khaen(Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar)
Understanding asian mouth-organ 43
• Khaen is also found in other countries such as North Vietnam(Thái people, Lào
people), Central Vietnam(Ta Oi people), North West Cambodia(Khmer people),
Myanmar(Karen people).
• Khmer and Ta Oi people’s language belongs to Mon-Khmer group of Austroasian
language and Karen people’s language belongs to Sino Tibetan language.
Thái people Ta Oi people
Karen peopleKhmer people

44. Migration of Tai-speaking tribes
Understanding asian mouth-organ 44
• It is thought this instrument was originally from Tai-Kadai language speakers then it was
adapted to non-Tai-Kadai speaking neighbors(as previous page) as migration of Tai-Kadai
speakers.
• This map shows general pattern of the migration of Tai-speaking tribes and we can see it
matches with distribution of Khaen mouth-organ.
Distribution of Khaen

45. REFERENCES
Understanding asian mouth-organ
Understanding asian mouth-organ 45

46. References(book)
• The history and distribution of the free-reed mouth-organ in SE Asia, Roger
Blench, 2012
• Free-reed mouth-organs of southern China, Andrew Hsiu, 2014
• Khaen: the bamboo free-reed mouth organ of Laos and Northeast Thailand,
Notes for Composers, Christopher Adler, 2007
• Engkerurai: Alat muzik masyarakt Iban, Sarawak, Alexander Anak Wong and
Soraya Mansor, Kementerian kebudayaan, Kesenian dan pelancongan,
Malaysia, 1995
• Mari belajar Sompoton, Elvin Dainal, 2015
• Khmer performing arts, Research committee on arts and culture, 2003
• Traditional musical instruments of Cambodia, United nations educational,
scientific and cultural organization, second edition, 2003
• The Khaen-lao and Lao folk song, learn to play the khaen-lao, Dr.Hongkad
design, research and invention institute, 2011
• Bangladesh, Ritual mouth-organs of the Murung, INEDIT, 1998
• Ethnic minorities in Vietnam by Dang Nghiem Van, Chu Thai Son, Luu Hung,
The Gioi publishers, 2014
• 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam, Vietnam news agency publishing house, 2016
Understanding asian mouth-organ 46

47. References(website)
• Roger Blench website
https://www.rogerblench.info/
• MSEA Languages
https://sites.google.com/site/msealangs/about
• Tribal Music of Asia
https://www.tribalmusicasia.com/
• tuk-tuk.tv
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvDgRSgOtsgun7xCjrBE0Pw
• Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvXp-y7U0keRh9hA0EelwBg
• Cambodian Living arts
https://www.facebook.com/Cambodianlivingarts/
• Khmer magic music bus
https://www.facebook.com/KMMBOrganization/
• ASZA.com
http://www.asza.com/
Understanding asian mouth-organ 47

48. Resources by author
• Asian mouth-organs, youtube channel
– https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbZuCflx8gAqMrdPy
dCx2ZR2wZBX3O0hi
• Distribution of asian mouth-organs, google my map
– https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ORCKot59TO8ZRcPrTbw
ejJuQgQLbWYTN&usp=sharing
• Asian mouth-organs, facebook page
– https://www.facebook.com/Asian-Mouth-Organs-
492725104564752/
Understanding asian mouth-organ 48

49. Who supported this research
• Judeth Baptist, Kuhim Ebin, Julie Maikon, Jacqueline Pugh-Kitingan, Elvin
Dainal, Bibi Bonton, Eleanor Goroh for Sompoton, Malaysia, 2016, 2017
• Pak Babuau, Nursalim Yadi Anugerah for Kadedek, Indonesia, 2018.
• ช่างไชยา ชาสงวน for Khen, Thailand, 2018.
• Tou Shi for Hulusheng, Yunnan, China, 2018.
• Lý Seo Hồ, Lồ Thùy Dung for Khèn of H’mong, Vietnam,2019.
• Pi Năng Phin, Pupur Viết for Sarakel, Vietnam, 2019.
• Linh Nga Niê Kdam, Ông Bố Lười, for Din Nam, Vietnam, 2019.
• เชาว์ สุเชาว์ รัฐกิจอาชา for Qeej of H’mong, West Thailand, 2019.
• Hà Ngọc for Khen of Ta Oi, Vietnam, 2019.
• Cambodian living arts, Steung Areng Community, Cambodia, 2018, 2019
• Wei-yun Wang for Sheng, Taiwan, 2015.
• Roger Blench, Palmer Keen, Andrew Hsiu, Randy Raine-Reusch,
Christopher Adler for continuous advices and academic suggestions.
Almost all historical and liguistic view in this document owe to academic
result of Roger Blench and Andrew Hsiu, it is appreciated from the bottom of
heart of the author, sincerely.
Understanding asian mouth-organ 49

50. Update history of this document
• 15 December, 2019, beta version is released
Understanding asian mouth-organ 50

51. Thanks
Understanding asian mouth-organ 51
http://junichi-usui.com
@junichiusui (instagram)
usuijunichi@hotmail.com