In primitive society, there were many kinds of utensils. The pottery pier of Hemudu site in Yuyao County, Zhejiang Province is oval, with only air holes and no sound holes, about 7000 years ago. Tao Di in Yangshao Cultural Site, banpo village, Xi, Shaanxi, looks like an olive with only one air hole. It is made of fine mud, which is one of the original forms of graves about 6000 years ago. Three pottery pots were unearthed from Jingcun Site in Wanrong County, Shanxi Province. One pottery pot has two sound holes (illustrations of China Music History Ⅰ-22 to Ⅰ-26). Neolithic pottery was found in Yaoguanzhuang in Weifang, Guandong in Yuanqu, fengcun in Yuanqu, Yijing Village in Taiyuan, Dahe Village in Zhengzhou, Henan, Wang Yang Temple Site in Anhui and Dadunzi Site in Pixian, Jiangsu, belonging to different primitive cultural regions.
Clay with pure soil and no sand and gravel impurities should be used to make pottery pots, and the color can be any red, yellow or black soil. Add clear water into clay, stir and knead repeatedly to make a mud block with moderate hardness, and then knead, shape, slice, polish and calcine it. Professor Cao Zheng of China Conservatory of Music has accumulated rich experience in making antique pottery urns since 1930s. From 1979, Professor Chen Zhong of Tianjin Conservatory of Music developed a nine-hole pottery urn.
Du Ciwen, the Central National Orchestra, went to the United States with the delegation to attend the 23rd Olympic Art Festival 1984, and then performed his solo works "Chu Ge", "Tang Le" and "Feng" in Spain, West Germany and other countries. Zhao Liangshan played the role of "Eight-tone ensemble" in Dancing with the Bell, which was well received. Nine-hole purple sand pottery has been widely used in national bands.