The Matouqin: Mongolia's Horse-Head Fiddle

The matouqin (morin khuur), the horse-head fiddle, is the national instrument of Mongolia and an important part of Inner Mongolia’s musical culture within China. Named for the carved horse head that adorns its scroll, it produces a deep, resonant sound that evokes the vast Mongolian steppe. The instrument carries profound cultural meaning for the Mongolian people, serving as a symbol of their nomadic heritage and spiritual connection to horses and the grassland landscape.

What Is the Matouqin?

The matouqin features:

• A trapezoidal wooden body, typically made from birch or willow wood, with a skin or wooden soundboard
• Two strings made traditionally of horsehair (modern instruments sometimes use nylon or composite materials)
• A carved horse head on the scroll, the instrument’s most recognizable visual feature
• A bow with horsehair, held with an underhand grip different from Western bowing technique
• A deep, rich sound in the lower register, roughly comparable to a cello in range

The instrument is held upright between the player’s knees, with the body resting on the thighs. The left hand stops the strings not by pressing them against a fingerboard (as with a violin) but by pressing against the strings from the side with the fingernails or fingertips, producing a distinctive tonal quality with natural slides and ornaments.

History and Legend

Mongolian tradition attributes the matouqin’s creation to a legend about a herder named Namjil and his beloved winged horse. When the horse was killed by a jealous rival, Namjil crafted an instrument from the horse’s bones, skin, and tail hair, carving the horse’s likeness on the scroll so its spirit could continue to sing. While the historical origins are uncertain, the instrument has been central to Mongolian musical life for centuries, with references appearing in historical texts from the medieval period.

Cultural Significance

The matouqin holds profound cultural importance:

• UNESCO proclaimed the morin khuur tradition a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2003
• It is inseparable from Mongolian nomadic culture, played in gers (yurts) across the grasslands
• Legends associate its creation with a beloved horse, linking the instrument to the central role of horses in Mongolian life
• It accompanies the distinctive Mongolian long song (urtiin duu) vocal tradition, one of the oldest surviving song forms in the world
• It is central to celebrations, ceremonies, and everyday musical life, from weddings to seasonal festivals

In Inner Mongolia (the autonomous region within China), the matouqin serves as both a living musical tradition and a cultural symbol. It is taught in schools, performed at government cultural events, and used in both traditional and contemporary musical contexts.

Sound Character

The matouqin produces:

• A deep, resonant, slightly nasal tone created by the horsehair strings and wooden body
• Sounds that evoke horses galloping across the steppe, achieved through specific bowing techniques that mimic hoofbeats
• Rich harmonic overtones that are emphasized through the side-pressing fingering technique
• A meditative, spacious quality matching the vast Mongolian landscape
• Expressive glides and ornaments that give melodies a vocal quality

The Matouqin and Throat Singing

The matouqin frequently accompanies Mongolian throat singing (khoomei), creating a powerful combination of overtone-rich sounds. Both the instrument and the vocal technique exploit the harmonic series in distinctive ways, and when performed together, they create a dense, shimmering soundscape that is unlike any other musical tradition. The matouqin provides a drone-like foundation over which the throat singer produces multiple simultaneous pitches.

Notable Performers and Modern Use

Several performers have brought the matouqin to international audiences. The instrument has been incorporated into film soundtracks, world music collaborations, and cross-genre experiments. In China, Inner Mongolian musicians have explored combining the matouqin with rock, electronic, and orchestral music, expanding its reach while preserving its essential character. Ensembles like the Inner Mongolia Youth Choir have featured the matouqin alongside traditional Mongolian vocal techniques in performances that have toured internationally.

Where to Find Matouqin Music

Matouqin recordings are available on streaming platforms. Search for both traditional Mongolian recordings and modern interpretations that bring this ancient sound into contemporary contexts. The Hubei Provincial Museum and Inner Mongolia Museum both feature matouqin in their cultural exhibits.