The pipa is a pear-shaped lute with a short, bent neck and four strings. The traditional instrument has 16 frets, but this version is becoming less common as it is being replaced by the modern  version which has 30 frets that extend onto the sound board. The instrument is played in a vertical position, most commonly using the fingernails or artificial fingerpicks.

The pipa has been played in China for close on 2000 years. The modern pipa  is closely related to the Persian barbat and was introduced into China in the late Jin Dynasty (265-420 AD). It became a favorite in the Tang Dynasty when Persian performers and teachers were much in demand. A number of beautifully carved and inlaid examples from this period survive today.