Phin Phia : The northern musical instrument found in Lanna, where is its origin from?

Abstract

Phin phia is a kind of ancient lute with a long history. Classified as veena, lute was influenced by the southern part of India in the 6^TH Buddhist era. Veena is the musical instrument and weapon of Hindu God. Veena entered to Southeast Asia especially Thailand in Daravadi period by the merchants and religious leader both land and sea, through Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Mayanmar, Indonesia, Cambodia, Veitnam and Thailand. There are the stone scriptures of musician playing veena lute in the territory of Southeast Asia. Veena lute entered to Thailand as Daravadi period to Sukothai, Ayuthaya, and Lanna . Now It is found the veena in the northern and southeast of Thailand.

Phin Phia, Phin Phia, Pia, or Phia is the ancient Lanna musical instrument which has the long history origin. Phin Phia had been developed from Phin Thanu and gourd lute. Phin Phia has 2 – 7 strings, body made of the coconut shell half (if the shell is made of gourd, it is called gourd lute). The neck is the cylinder tube made of the hardwood with the another end sharpened for attaching with the head of Phin Phia. It was found that the head of Phin Phia was made of bronze smelt into the shape of the elephant or Hastilinga (the mystical bird in the belief of Lanna).