China: A dancer (left), a drummer (centre) and a sheng player (right), Five Dynasties Period (907 - 960 CE), Shanghai Museum, Shanghai

The Chinese sheng (Chinese: 笙; Pinyin shēng) is a mouth-blown free reed instrument consisting of vertical pipes.

Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (simplified Chinese: 五代十国; traditional Chinese: 五代十國; pinyin: Wǔdài Shíguó) was an era of political upheaval in China from 907–960/979 CE, between the fall of the Tang Dynasty and the founding of the Song Dynasty.

During this period, five dynasties quickly succeeded one another in the north, and more than twelve independent states were established, mainly in the south. Only ten are traditionally listed, hence the era's name, 'Ten Kingdoms'. This era also led to the founding of the Liao Dynasty in the north.

Copyright:

CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

David Henley

Credit:

Pictures From Asia