tovshuur
The tovshuur, also known as topshur or topshuur (Mongolian Cyrillic: товшуур; tobshiğur; Mandarin Chinese: 托布秀尔 Tuō bù xiù ěr) is a two- or three-stringed lute played by the Western Mongolian (Oirats) tribes called the Altai Urianghais, the Altais, Tuvans, and Khalkha peoples. The topshur is closely tied to the folklore of Western Mongolian people and accompanied the performances of storytellers, singing, and dancing. According to descriptions given by Marco Polo, the Mongols also played the instruments before a battle.
Also recorded as topshur · tobshuur
tovshuur
Andrew Russeth from New York, New York · Flickr Uploaded by clusternote · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Name
- Tovshuur
- Field
- chordophone
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
The tovshuur, also known as topshur or topshuur (Mongolian Cyrillic: товшуур; tobshiğur; Mandarin Chinese: 托布秀尔 Tuō bù xiù ěr) is a two- or three-stringed lute played by the Western Mongolian (Oirats) tribes called the Altai Urianghais, the Altais, Tuvans, and Khalkha peoples. The topshur is closely tied to the folklore of Western Mongolian people and accompanied the performances of storytellers, singing, and dancing. According to descriptions given by Marco Polo, the Mongols also played the instruments before a battle.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for tovshuur. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
World of VALÉORINE
Documentary connections
Only confirmed graph relationships appear here. Images are shown only when their identity and reuse rights both pass the documentary gate.
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q4460933 · wikipedia · Tovshuur
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Tovshuur • Background — string • Names — Tovshuur, Topshuur, Topshur, Toshpulúr, Tavshur; • Classification — *Plucked string instrument • Hornbostel Sachs — 321.321 • Related — Komuz, Dombra, Doshpuluur, Balalaika, Sanxian • Musicians — Temuulen Naranbaatar (The HU), Batzorig Vaanchig, Altai Kai
Construction and design
Construction and design
All tovshuur are homemade, and, because of this, the materials and shape of the tovshuur vary depending on the builder and the region. For example, depending on the tribe, the string might be made of horsehair or sheep intestine. The body of the tovshuur is bowl-shaped and usually covered in tight animal skin. The Kalmykian tovshuur's form is more similar to that of the Kazakh Dombra • Illustration — Temuulen "Temka" Naranbaatar of the Hu playing the tovshuur
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Collectables
20,755 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Toukiden 2Work
- Tourist TrophyWork
- Tournament GolfWork
- Tournament of LegendsWork
- TowdieWork
- Tower FraWork
- Tower of FantasyWork
- Tower of GunsWork
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own an object connected with tovshuur?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.