Ambushed from Ten Sides
Ambushedfrom Ten Sides is the most famous piece for Chinesepipa solo and one of the most representative examples of a “martial”composition. It not only showcases the pipa’s rich expressive capabilities andhighly advanced techniques but also, through purely instrumental music, tells ahistorical story full of war and tragedy. The piece depicts the final battle ofthe Chu–Han Contention in 202 BCE—the Battle of Gaixia—where Xiang Yu, the Kingof Chu, was surrounded on all sides by Liu Bang’s forces. Ultimately defeated,he committed suicide at the Wu River, leaving one of the most poignant andheroic episodes in Chinese history.
The structure of Ambushed from Ten Sides is tightly organized, with distinct layersand grand momentum. From the outset, the low and tense melodies evoke theoppressive atmosphere before battle. The tempo gradually accelerates, imitatingthe sound of war drums, clashing swords, and galloping horses, transporting thelistener to a battlefield filled with thousands of soldiers. The pipa employstechniques such as strumming, rapid finger rolls, tapping, and sweeping thestrings to simulate the dramatic sounds of war. In the climax, the notes raindown densely, rhythms become rapid and compact, conveying the chaos andferocity of combat. The final coda slows, transforming the intensity into aheavy, desolate mood, symbolizing the hero’s last moments as Xiang Yu meets histragic end.
This piece is often described as “oneperson performing the battle of ten thousand,” making it one of the mostnarrative and dramatic works in traditional Chinese music. It is not merely adisplay of technical prowess but also a vivid reenactment of emotion andhistory. Listeners do not just hear notes—they hear the flash of swords, theclash of battle, blood and fire, loyalty and honor, and the indomitable spiritstruggling against impossible odds.
Ambushedfrom Ten Sides first took shape during the QingDynasty, originally created by folk musicians. Over generations, countless pipaperformers refined and adapted it, eventually producing the version familiartoday. Renowned masters such as Lin Shicheng, Liu Dehai, and Wu Man have allperformed this piece, each bringing their own style and interpretation, helpingit reach international audiences and allowing the world to hear this epic ofwar from the East.
To this day, Ambushed from Ten Sides remains one of the most significant worksin the pipa repertoire. It represents the pinnacle of pipa artistry andembodies the unique aesthetic of traditional Chinese music—“telling historythrough an instrument” and “narrating through sound.” Listening to this piece,one feels transported through time, hearing the neighing of horses, seeingclouds of smoke, and experiencing the brilliance and decline of that heroicera.
