19th century Pipa. Made by Jiu-cheng Guangzhou (Canton), China. The name &quot;pípá&quot; is made up of two Chinese syllables, &quot;pí&quot; (琵) and &quot;pá&quot; (琶). These are the two most common ways of playing this instrument. &quot;Pí&quot; is to push the fingers of the right hand from right to left, thus more than one finger can be used at a time striking multiple notes, and &quot;pá&quot; is to pull the thumb of the right hand from left to right, in the opposite direction.