Tungna
The Tungna a plucked string instrument from the Northern Himalayan region: Nepal, Tibet, Sikkim and Bhutan. It is made from a single piece of carved wood. The front hollow body (which serves as the sound-box) is covered with stretched animal skin on which the 'bridge' sits.
Tungna
![[[w:[Dranyen|Dranyen]]. Also resembles Tamang Tungna (tungnas used by the Tamang people, carved with horses head. [1]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2f/Nepalese_instrument.jpg/1280px-Nepalese_instrument.jpg)
by housingworksauctions · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Name
- Tungana
- Field
- chordophone
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
The Tungna a plucked string instrument from the Northern Himalayan region: Nepal, Tibet, Sikkim and Bhutan. It is made from a single piece of carved wood. The front hollow body (which serves as the sound-box) is covered with stretched animal skin on which the 'bridge' sits.
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Documentary evidence
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wikidata · Q13181472 · wikipedia · Tungna
In this article
Overview
Overview
The Tungna has four strings which is anchored to the keys and body at both ends and the 'bridge' acts as a cantilever thus maintaining the tension of the strings. It is mostly played by the people in the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal mainly by the Tamang, Gurung and Sherpa people during auspicious occasions, gatherings and festivals. The musicians play the Tungna and sing songs, which they compose themselves especially to welcome the New Year or during the harvest season. Most households of this mountain region have at least one Tungna in their house.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Tungana • Names — *Tungna • sgra-snyan (Tibet) • Classification — String instrument (plucked) • Hornbostel Sachs — 321.322 (necked box lute) • Hornbostel Sachs Desc — Chordophone • Developed — Nepal and Bhutan • Related — *Arbajo • Dotara • Dranyen • Kabuli rubab • Pamiri rubab • Sarod • Seni rebab
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q13181472: Tungna
General reference · Wikidata
reference work
- “Tungna”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Citations
References
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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.
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