"Dung-chen (Telescoping trumpet)"

Among the instruments most associated with Buddhism are dung-chen, trumpets which are played by monks during preludes, processions, and calls to prayer. They are also played on rooftops to alert villagers and ancestral spirits of upcoming feast days. Dung-chen means ‘great trumpet’ but when they are made of brass they are called rag dung, copper zangs dung, and silver dngul dung.

Dung-chen

Instrument Data

Instrument Information

Title

Dung-chen (Telescoping trumpet)

Alternative Title

Zangs-dung

Accession Number

3174

Collection

MIMEd

Date Information

Date Made

Circa 1975

Period

20th century; 1970s; 1980s

Gallery Information

Gallery

Laigh Room

Case

Ritual instruments display

Maker Information

No information recorded.

Made In

No information recorded.

Description

Technical Description

Long telescopic trumpet; copper body with brass decorative cuffs. Conical bore profile; three-part construction; `telescopic' mounting and demounting; fixed mouthpiece; bell diameter 120mm. Repair History: Mouthpiece has been re-soldered. Dung chen, literally, "great trumpet," are made from several different materials and are typically identified by association with those materials, including brass (rag dung), copper (zangs dung) and silver (dngul dung).

Provenance

ex- C.W. Monk collection.; on loan to the Collection.

Classification