Guqin - Chinese Traditional Musical Instruments

24. Guqin - Plucked String Instrument

The Guqin is the most revered of all the Chinese music instruments. Remains of the Guqin have been found in ancient tombs (500 to 200 BC). The instrument was matured nearly 1,600 years ago. Guqins exist today from the Tang Dynasty (700 AD) in museums. The Guqin consists of a long, narrow upper wooden board made from the tong tree (or other trees of the pine family) and a lower board made from the catalpa tree or other hardwood. These two pieces of boards are stuck together and lacquered on the surface, There are 13 small dots (called hui) inlaid on the outside of the upper boards, which mark the positions of the musical notes and their harmonics. Seven strings are stretched on the upper board, starting from the thickest one on the outside to the thinnest on the inside. Compared with other Chinese instruments, the guqin is unique for at least three aspects:
1. The effective vibrating length of the strings is longer than any other Chinese instruments, resulting in a large vibrating amplitude and a tone rich in the lower register that fits the sound of nature.
2. The fingerboard is on the upper board that does not consist of any frets. Its sound holes are opened on the lower board, which means that the sound is transmitted downwards.
3. Over 100 harmonics can be played, making the instrument having the largest number of overtones.