Guqin
The guqin in five languages: European languages use the Chinese name; a seven-string zither without bridges
Related
Five languages
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 古琴（七弦琴） |
| English | guqin |
| Italian | — |
| German | — |
| French | — |
The guqin is China's seven-string plucked zither, laid flat and played without bridges. Its soundboard is usually paulownia or fir and its base catalpa; the left hand stops the strings or sounds harmonics while the right plucks. The tone is low and restrained, and the instrument was traditionally the scholar's own, played solo or with the xiao. Its tablature, jianzipu, leaves rhythm to oral transmission and personal realization.
Watch out: the guqin and guzheng are often confused — the guqin has seven strings and no bridges and a quiet voice; the guzheng has many strings, bridges and a bright sound. Older English labels such as "lute" or "zither" are inaccurate; guqin is now the standard rendering. Italian, German and French have no established native name and use guqin.
Read deeper → Guqin
Sources
- 名称与形制，参《中国音乐词典》与 The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, "Qin"；译名参通行音乐术语词典；本文为原创表述
Used for fact-checking only; all prose is original.