Guzheng
The guzheng in five languages: European languages use the Chinese name; a bridged zither, not the guqin
Related
Five languages
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 古筝（筝） |
| English | guzheng |
| Italian | — |
| German | — |
| French | — |
The guzheng is China's large zheng: today usually twenty-one strings tuned to a pentatonic scale, with one movable bridge (yanzhu) under each string. The right hand plucks with false nails and the left presses the strings for ornament. It was already popular in the Warring States period (the usual account); the name guzheng, "ancient zheng", is a modern usage that sets it apart from other zithers.
Watch out: the guzheng and the guqin both belong to the plucked zither family, but the guzheng has bridges, many strings and a strong sound and belongs to folk and stage music; the guqin has seven strings, no bridges and a quiet voice and is the scholar's instrument. They are not interchangeable, though English calls both "Chinese zither". Italian, German and French have no established native name and use guzheng.
Compare → Guqin
Sources
- 名称与形制，参《中国音乐词典》与 The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, "Zheng"；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.