Product · Tanggu · Village Sourced

Tanggu (堂鼓): Sizes, Skins, MOQ & Wholesale Specs

A tanggu (堂鼓) is a Chinese hall / ensemble drum—typically barrel-shaped and two-headed—for opera, folk ensembles, temples and stage. Matun Drums is a Village Sourced purchasing agent in Matun Village, Yanshi, Luoyang—not a factory-direct manufacturer.

Tanggu (堂鼓) — traditional Chinese barrel drum with cowhide heads on wooden stand

10"–26"

Available size band

Overview

A hall drum for stage, ceremony, and classroom

Compared with a wearable waist drum (yaogu), a tanggu is usually a floor / stand / frame hall drum—not worn for parade dance. Buyers often prioritize projection and ensemble blend. Diameter and depth bands are larger for many stage / temple uses—confirm the actual shell; do not assume one national-standard size.

For the full buyer map (tanggu vs waist vs lion dance), use Types of Chinese drums. How shells and skins are typically built in the workshops we source from: How Chinese drums are made. We coordinate partner workshops, QC and export—we do not manufacture drums.

  • Confirm measuring method (skin face vs shell OD) before PO
  • Skin path: animal hide or synthetic when climate/policy requires
  • Hardware: stands/frames, rims, beaters, cases as needed
  • MOQ and lead time: ask in quote — no unaudited single hard MOQ on this page

Gallery

In Performance & Craft Detail

From the concert hall stage to the drum body's surface — experience the tanggu in action.

Musician playing a tanggu hall drum on stage in a traditional Chinese orchestra performance

Performance

Orchestra Stage

Close-up of tanggu drum body showing reddish-brown lacquered wood with ruyi cloud patterns and metal studs

Craft Detail

Lacquered Body & Ruyi Clouds

Specifications

Drum Specifications

Starting bands below — confirm measuring method and workshop tolerance before the purchase order. Not an official national-standard diameter law.

Sizes

9" - 47" diameter (22-120 cm)

Small tanggu: 22, 25, 32 cm. Large tanggu: 50-120 cm. Heights: 17-63 cm. Standard sizes: 10", 12", 14", 16", 18", 20", 24", 26".

Materials

Toon or linden wood shell, cowhide head

Toon wood, linden, poplar, or fir shells paired with water buffalo hide or cattle hide, 1.2-1.8 mm thick.

Sound Characteristics

Balanced, punchy, resonant

Clear attack with warm sustain — ideal for ensemble settings and stage performance.

Drum Skin

Natural or synthetic, hand-stretched

Soaked, stretched, and nailed by hand for consistent tension and durability.

Hardware

Iron or brass tension rings & nails

Reinforced rims and optional stands for stage, parade, and classroom use.

Colors

Red, black, natural, custom

Traditional lacquer finishes with hand-painted detailing and custom palettes.

Buyer Data Sheet

Complete Procurement Specifications

Buyer-facing fields for the Tanggu family. Confirm measuring method and workshop options in quote. Village Sourced purchasing agent — not factory-direct.

Model Number

MT-TG

Family code. Sub-code by diameter: TG-10 / 12 / 14 / 16 / 18 / 20 / 24 / 26.

Drum Type

Tanggu (堂鼓)

Double-headed barrel drum, played on adjustable stand with two wooden sticks.

Diameter

9" – 47" (22–120 cm)

Common orchestra sizes: 14"–20". Opera / ceremony: 22"–26". Stage spectacle: 30"+.

Height / Depth

7" – 25" (17–63 cm)

Standard depth ratio ≈ 0.6 × diameter. Custom depth on request.

Weight

4 – 25 kg (per drum)

14" drum ≈ 5 kg; 20" drum ≈ 12 kg; 26" drum ≈ 20 kg.

Shell Material

Toon / Linden / Poplar hardwood

6–8 ply laminated hardwood. Toon for warm tone, poplar for bright attack.

Shell Thickness

8 – 12 mm

Standard 10 mm. 12 mm for large ceremonial drums above 24".

Drumhead Material

First-layer water buffalo hide or cattle hide

1.2–1.8 mm thickness. Synthetic heads available (Remo / Evans style) on request.

Hardware

Iron rings, brass nails, optional iron stand

Reinforced iron rims, brass tension nails, cotton rope tensioning on traditional models.

Tuning Method

Nail-tuned or bolt-tension rim

Traditional hand-stretched nailed heads. Bolt-tension rim upgrade recommended for schools.

Sound Character

Balanced, punchy, resonant

Clear attack with warm sustained body. Tunable pitch by tightening heads symmetrically.

Recommended Use

Indoor ensemble & ceremony

Opera pit, orchestra, school music, ceremony, stage. Not for direct outdoor rain exposure.

Recommended Users

Orchestras, opera troupes, schools, ceremony organizers, stage performers

Beginner-friendly. Bolt-tension rim recommended for student use.

Finish

Lacquer, hand-painted ruyi cloud motif

Traditional red lacquer with ruyi clouds. Natural wood, black, gold, or Pantone on request.

Logo / Branding

Painted or laser-engraved

Add school / ensemble / brand logo. MOQ 50 pcs for laser engraving.

Packing Size

20" drum: 55 × 55 × 45 cm per ctn

5-ply export carton + EPE foam. 1 pc/ctn for 14"+ drums.

Gross Weight

8 – 24 kg per carton

Varies by drum size and shell thickness.

MOQ

From 10 pcs (mixed sizes ok)

Sample orders 1–3 pcs welcome. Mixed-size orders allowed within a 50-piece batch.

Sample Availability

1–3 pcs in 7 days

Standard 14"–20" ship in 7 days. Custom sizes 10–14 days.

Sample Lead Time

7 – 14 days

From spec confirmation.

Bulk Lead Time

20 – 45 days (by quantity)

10–49 pcs: 20–25 days. 50–199 pcs: 25–35 days. 200+ pcs: 35–45 days.

Shipping Terms

EXW / FOB / CIF / DDP

EXW Luoyang, FOB Shanghai / Qingdao, CIF major ports, DDP US / CA / UK / EU on request.

Customization Options

Size, shell wood, drumhead, hardware, color, logo, packing

All listed fields above are customizable. Submit your spec sheet with your inquiry.

Estimated Price Tiers

Reference price ranges

Order QuantityReference Range
Sample (1–3 pcs)from US$80 / drum
10 – 49 pcsRequest quote
50 – 199 pcsVolume pricing
200+ pcsCustom quotation

Reference ranges are planning figures only (FOB discussion common). Final price depends on shell wood, drumhead, hardware, finish and Incoterm—ask in quote.

Lead Time & MOQ

Production & delivery

MOQ

Ask in quote (depends on model / finish / workshop schedule)

Sample Lead Time

7 – 14 days

Bulk Lead Time

20 – 45 days (by quantity)

Sample and bulk lead times start from artwork approval and deposit receipt. Add 7–14 days for sea freight, 3–5 days for air freight.

Customization Checklist

Tell us what you need

Use this checklist in your RFQ to speed up quotation. Confirming these details up front avoids back-and-forth and gives you a more accurate price.

  • Drum type & family code
  • Diameter & depth
  • Shell wood (toon / linden / poplar)
  • Shell thickness (8 / 10 / 12 mm)
  • Drumhead material (water buffalo / cattle / synthetic)
  • Hardware finish (iron / brass / matte black)
  • Tuning method (nail / bolt-tension)
  • Stand type (low / adjustable / wheeled)
  • Color & ruyi-cloud pattern
  • Ensemble / school logo
  • Packing (single / 2-ctn bulk / export crate)
  • Quantity tier (sample / 10+ / 50+ / 200+)

Optional Accessories

Add to your order

ItemIncluded
Wooden drum sticks (pair)✓
Iron adjustable stand+
Bolt-tension rim upgrade+
Protective dust cover+
Replacement drumhead (matched pair)+
Hard travel case+
Tuning kit (hammer + nails)+
Custom export crate+

Packing & Loading

Built for export

5-ply export carton, EPE foam cradle, desiccant sachet, ISPM-15 heat-treated wood crate on request.

Pieces per carton1 pc (14"+) · 2 pcs (12" and below)
Carton size20" drum: 55 × 55 × 45 cm per ctn
Gross weight per carton10 – 24 kg per ctn (varies by drum size)
20' FCL capacity≈ 500 pcs (14"–20")
40' HQ FCL capacity≈ 1,200 pcs (14"–20")

See full shipping & import options on Shipping & Import.

Where It Shines

Common Use Cases

From opera pit to school classroom, tanggu buying is about size band, skin, hardware and wholesale fields—not a second encyclopedia of every Chinese drum type.

Orchestra & Opera

Provides the percussive backbone for traditional ensembles and Peking opera accompaniment.

Ceremony & Ritual

A ceremonial staple for processions, openings, and cultural celebrations.

Education

Durable, balanced tone makes it a favorite for school music programs and percussion classes.

Stage Performance

Visual presence and controlled projection suit concerts and cultural showcases.

FAQ

Questions buyers ask

What size tanggu do I need?

It depends on venue and repertoire. Use the size table as a starting range, measure any drum your ensemble already likes the same way, and confirm with the workshop before ordering. For type differences, see Types of Chinese drums.

What is your MOQ?

MOQ depends on model and workshop schedule—ask in the quote. We do not hard-code an unaudited single MOQ as the only official number on this page.

Are these factory-direct?

No. Matun Drums sources from village workshops (Village Sourced) and coordinates export QC. We are a purchasing agent—not a factory-direct manufacturer, and we do not claim “we build” or “our factory.”

Ready to turn a size band into a shippable order?

Note diameter × depth (cm) + quantity + skin/finish. Open Get a quote, or WhatsApp +86 18695901333 · WeChat 13213181166. Village Sourced — not factory-direct.