Wooden Melodica

Length: 49cm, width: 9cm, height: 6cm.Qing Dynasty

The melodica is a free-reed instrument similar to the melodeon and the harmonica. It has a musical keyboard on top and is played by blowing air through a mouthpiece that fits into a hole in the side of the instrument. Pressing a key opens a hole, allowing air to flow through a reed. Melodicas are small, light, portable, and easy to learn, making it a popular toy in the Forbidden City.

Mongolian Chess

Length: 27cm, width: 27cm. Qing Dynasty

Mongolian chess, also called Shatar, was probably first adopted to the area of the Mongol in the period when Genghis Khan went on his western expedition during the 13th century. It was then introduced to the center of China during the early Qing Dynasty.

Mongolian chess is quite similar to Xiangqi, or Chinese chess, but the form, rules and ways to move the chess pieces are more like international chess. There are 32 pieces total. The piece which corresponds to the chess king is depicted by a cavalier riding on a horse. The piece corresponding to the western bishop is a two-humped camel. The piece corresponding to the knight is, not surprisingly, a standing horse. The piece, “rook”, is represented by a horse-drawn cart. The pawn is smaller than the other pieces and it can look like a small sitting person.

By Liu Fang