Amazing Chinese Characters (497) Blow (music instrument) - 丂

 The shell bone script of Blow (music instrument) is

The simplest ancient music instrument, which is not exist now. We don't know what it looks like exactly, it could be the predecessor of Chinese traditional wind instrument 竽 made from bamboo。

The bronze script of the character is

The top is flat line now.

The small seal script of the character is 

The vertical line is curved, which means that the tube is not straight, is curved. The bamboo tube could be bent by heating it up in small area in certain degree, which could be done only by highly skillful and very experienced people. The curve makes the air flow not straight forward, creating a richful sound. 

The standard script of the character is

The curve becomes sharp turns, changed the original meaning: curved air flow.

The pinyin of the character is Kao3 or Qiao3.

The character is not used as independent character any more. 《新华字典》even does't list it. It is OK for you not know it, but it is still exist in many compound characters, such as 巧，朽，号，考，兮，etc. To know its meaning will help you understand other characters.