Matouqin Morin Khuur: Sound of the Horsehead Fiddle

Published by Anthony
on November 13, 2026

Explore the matouqin, or morin khuur, a two-stringed Mongolian horsehead fiddle. Learn how its bow shapes the sound and where its music is played today.

Quick Answer: What Is the Matouqin or Morin Khuur?

The matouqin (马头琴, mǎtóuqín), known in Mongolian as morin khuur, is a bowed fiddle with two strings, a long fretless neck and a carved horse head. It belongs to Mongolian musical traditions in Mongolia and in communities in China.^[1][2]

Shape: A trapezoid-shaped soundbox sits below the long neck and carved horse head.^[7]
Sound: A bow excites the strings. Changes in bow stroke and left-hand placement shape the tone and melody.^[7]
Setting: The fiddle can be heard on its own, with long song or dance, and in stage ensembles.^[4][5]

Compare a solo with a performance alongside a singer to hear how the instrument’s role changes.

Matouqin morin khuur guide to structure bowing and musical settings

The horse head helps identify the fiddle across a concert hall. In a close view, the soundbox, strings and bow are the parts to watch. A recording also gives clues about what the musician is doing, from making a pitch glide to marking a short rhythmic figure.

Look for the Trapezoid and Two Strings

The long neck of a morin khuur usually ends in a carved horse head. Below the carving sit the two pegs that tune the strings. The strings pass over a bridge on the soundbox. The box widens toward the base.^[1][5]

The heritage account documents a skin-covered face and strings made with horsehair. Smithsonian Folkways liner notes also describe wood-faced fiddles with sound holes. The change from skin to wood affects which details you can see in photographs. On the wood-faced examples described in the notes, look for the pair of openings. Inspect the neck and body together when you compare it with other Chinese musical instruments.^[5]

How the Bow Shapes the Sound

A player holds the instrument upright and moves the bow across the strings. The two hands contribute different parts of the sound. The bow sets the string in motion, and the left hand changes the sounding length. With a fretless neck, a player can move smoothly between pitches or add a small fluctuation around a held pitch.^[7]

Listen for the difference between a long note with an audible swell and a series of short attacks. In a repeated figure, notice how the bow marks the beginning of each note. In a slower phrase, the changes in tone inside a single held note are often easier to hear.^[7]

Where the Horsehead Fiddle Is Heard

In solo playing, the fiddle carries the melody. It can also accompany dancing or Mongolian long song, whose singers extend and ornament syllables over a wide range. Listen for how long the fiddle sustains a note relative to the voice, and what it does in gaps between sung phrases.^[5][6]

China’s heritage record for Khorchin Right Wing Middle Banner describes solo and ensemble use, including appearances alongside larger orchestras. It lists the sihu separately as another Mongolian bowed instrument in local music-making. Its four strings give a direct physical comparison.^[4]

What the Heritage Records Recognize

UNESCO’s entry for Mongolia recognizes the traditional music of the morin khuur and its transmission from player to player. Written references to horse-headed instruments go back to the Mongol Empire. The references date a feature of the instrument’s appearance. The heritage entry also describes a tradition taught directly by experienced players.^[1]

China’s national inventory has a separate listing for Mongolian matouqin music in Inner Mongolia, announced in 2006. It also records a regional extension in the Gorlos Mongol Autonomous County of Jilin in 2008. The Gorlos entry locates its practice in Qian Gorlos Mongol Autonomous County and nearby parts of Jilin. The guide to Chinese traditional music places the instrument alongside other regional practices.^[2][3]

FAQs About Matouqin and Morin Khuur

Are matouqin and morin khuur names for the same fiddle?

Both names are used for the Mongolian horsehead fiddle. Matouqin is the Mandarin name, and morin khuur is the Mongolian name.^[1][2]

Are both strings always made from horsehair?

Horsehair is the traditional string material. Look for a description of the particular instrument when comparing a heritage example with a contemporary stage instrument.^[5]

What should I listen for in a first recording?

Start with the bow attack, then follow one note as it lengthens or slides into the next. Compare it with a short repeated figure to hear how the bow sets the pulse.^[7]