Di mo

{{Short description|Special membrane applied to the transverse Chinese flute dizi}} {{unsourced|date=January 2020}} {{Italic title|reason=:Category:Chinese words and phrases}} {{About|a membrane|other uses|Dimo (disambiguation){{!}}Dimo}} The '''''dimo''''' ({{zh|c={{linktext|笛膜}}|p=dímó|l=''di'' membrane}}) is a special membrane applied to the transverse Chinese flute called ''dizi'' (or ''di''), giving the instrument its characteristic buzzing timbre.

right|thumbnail|Di mo papers with packaging ''Dimo'', made from the tissue-thin membrane from the interior of a specific variety of bamboo, are supplied as tubular sleeves. Only a small rectangle is needed at a time, so for application, a small section is cut off the end of the ''di mo'' sleeve, and that small tube is cut open to make a rough rectangle of flat membrane.

The Korean transverse bamboo flute called ''daegeum'' has a similar buzzing membrane. The Korean ''sogeum'' and ''junggeum'', Vietnamese ''sáo'', and the Thai ''khlui'' also once had membranes, but these are not used today.

==Application== The ''di mo'' is applied to the membrane hole (or Mo kong) of the dizi using a special, traditional glue called ''Ejiao''. One of the advantages of ''ejiao'' is that the glue is water-soluble, so that it can be wetted again to re-adjust the ''di mo''.

After applying the glue around the ''mo kong'', the ''di mo'' is applied, and then adjusted while the glue is still wet so that many creases form in a sequence along the length of the hole. Each crease should be parallel to the one before, crossing the hole horizontally, so that together they form a sort of pleat or corrugation.

If ''Ejiao'' is not available, a substitute can be improvised by simply crushing garlic into a fine, relatively dry paste, and applying as normal. It should be used quickly.

Although the purpose of applying ''di mo'' is simply to make the ''dizi'' operational, the application technique is considered to be an art in itself.

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Di Mo}} Category:Dizi