Fou (缶 or 缻; pinyin: fǒu; 2008)

1 of 2008 replicas of ancient Chinese clay percussion (resembling Ding)

used on 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony

exhibited at Musical Instrument Museum (Phoenix) (MIM Phoenix)

Millions of spectators worldwide were thrilled by the beauty and grandeur of the drumming
presentation that opened the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Moving in graceful, balletic unison, 2,008
percussionists pounded out earth-shaking
rhythms on gigantic drums outfitted with
LEDs that flashed with each explosive beat.
Beijing national Stadium resounded as the
drummers chanted a line from Confucius
welcoming “friends from faraway.”

This ceremonial drum is one of the 2,008
from that historic event. It bears the number
18, considered lucky in Chinese culture. The
instrument's rectangular shape--unusual
for a drum--and elaborate ornamentation
recall the ancient Chinese fou, a type of drum
fashioned from a wine vessel. But the LEDs
clearly make this 21st-century instrument,
and one that played a dramatic role in history.