Notched flute; xiao

Xiao, hsiao, notched flute. Bamboo pipe with seven nodes. The exterior tapers towards the distal end. All nodes are opened out inside apart from the top one, which has been smoothed flat to form an end cap that has a U-shaped hole above the notch at the front of the top rim. Five fingerholes, and one thumbhole above the top fingerhole. These are oval shaped and the fingerholes are irregularly spaced. Two pairs of vent holes in the back of the instrument towards the distal end. Above the fingerholes the letter 'D' is printed in green ink, and four Chinese characters appear below them.