FLOWER DRUM
The Dagu, also known as Flower Drum, has a wooden body shaped like a flower vase. The top and bottom are each covered by calfskin, with the bottom being typically half to three-fifths the size of the top. The drum is then put onto a wooden frame and played by two wooden mallets in performances. An orchestra would sometimes make use of several Dagu of different sizes to perform solo passages of a melodic nature.

CHINESE WOODBLOCK
The Chinese woodblock, whose Chinese name means "wooden fish", was originally used by Buddhist priests for chanting. It is made of a hollow wooden block shaped like a fish, as fishes were believed to be always awake and, thus, serve as a symbol and a reminder of hard work. The earliest Chinese woodblock used in ancient China was, however, made of a long woodblock about 4 to 5 feet long. It was hung outside a temple and hit at meal times to congregate the monks. A modern day Chinese orchestra now generally employs a full set of woodblocks in different sizes.

GONG
It is difficult to trace the origin of the gong, but the use of the instrument was documented as early as the Tang Dynasty. The gong is made of a big round metal plate with a turned-up edge to form a sort of dish. Diameters may vary from 3 inches to 4 feet.

CYMBALS
A pair of cymbals is made up of 2 metal plates, each fitted with a leather strap. Cymbals were found in ancient Persia, Greece and Rome over 3,000 years ago, but they were generally of smaller sizes. Larger cymbals seem to have been found mainly in China. Used originally in Buddhist rituals, the cymbals are now widely used for "lion dance" and opera accompaniment.