A major archaeological project in Hubei Province, China, has unearthed a series of monumental lacquer drum-stands decorated with coiling dragons and vermilion phoenixes. These stands, belonging to the ancient Chu State, were found in a ritual pit that shows evidence of large-scale musical performances linked to the summer solstice and the calling of the rains.
Unlike other ceremonial finds, these drum-stands were equipped with bronze resonators at their base, designed to amplify deep, low-frequency sounds that would mimic thunder. Experts suggest these artifacts provide a missing link in the evolution of southern Chinese festivals, where percussion and dragon imagery were used to ensure the success of the rice harvest.