These are Chinese traditional musical instruments.
(In fact, there are many more varieties).
Contemporary illustrations by artist Van Kunde show how these instruments were used.
Erhu (二胡, èrhú), a two-string violin, has perhaps the most expressive voice among all bowed violins string instruments. The erhu is played both solo and in ensembles. This is the most popular string instrument among various ethnic groups China. When playing the erhu, many complex technical bowing and finger techniques are used. The erhu violin often acts as the lead instrument in a traditional Chinese orchestra national instruments and when performing string and wind music.
The word "erhu" is composed of the characters for "two" and "barbarian", as this two-stringed instrument came to China about 1000 years ago thanks to the northern nomadic peoples.
Modern erhus are made of valuable wood, the resonator is covered with python skin. The bow is made of bamboo, on which a horsehair string is stretched. The musician pulls the string of the bow with his fingers while playing. right hand, and the bow itself is fixed between two strings, forming a single whole with the erhu.
Pipa (琵琶, pípa) is a 4-string plucked musical instrument, which is sometimes also called the Chinese lute. One of the most common and famous Chinese musical instruments. The pipa has been played in China for more than 1,500 years: the ancestor of the pipa, whose homeland is the area between the Tigris and Euphrates (the Fertile Crescent region) in the Middle East, came to China along the ancient Silk Road in the 4th century. n. e. Traditionally, the pipa was used mainly for solo play, less often in folk music ensembles, usually in southeast China, or to accompany storytellers.
The name "pipa" is associated with the way the instrument is played: "pi" means moving the fingers down the strings, and "pa" means moving the fingers back up. The sound is produced by a plectrum, but sometimes also by a fingernail, which is given a special shape.
Several similar East Asian instruments are derived from the pipa: the Japanese biwa, the Vietnamese đàn tỳ bà, and the Korean bipa.
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Yueqin (月琴, yuèqín, i.e. “moon lute”), or zhuan ((阮), is a type of lute with a round resonator body. The zhuan has 4 strings and a short neck with frets (usually 24). There are also a zhuan with an octagonal body. It is played using a plectrum. The instrument has a melodic sound reminiscent of. classical guitar, and is used both for playing solo and in an orchestra.
In ancient times, the zhuan was called "pipa" or "qin pipa" (i.e. pipa of the Qin dynasty). However, after the ancestor of the modern pipa came to China along the Silk Road during the Tang dynasty (about 5th century AD), the name "pipa" was assigned to the new instrument, and the lute with a short neck and a round body began to be called " zhuan" - named after the musician who played it, Ruan Xian (3rd century AD). Ruan Xian was one of the seven great scholars known as the "Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove".
Xiao (箫, xiāo) is a vertical flute, usually made of bamboo. This one is very ancient instrument, apparently, comes from the flute of the Tibetan-related Qiang people from southwestern China. An idea of this flute is given by ceramic funerary figurines dating back to the Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD). This instrument is even more ancient than the di flute.
Xiao flutes have a clear sound suitable for playing beautiful melodies that are soothing to the ear. They are often used in solo performance, in ensemble and to accompany traditional Chinese opera.
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XUANGU - hanging drum
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Paixiāo (排箫, páixiāo) is a type of pan flute. Over time, the instrument disappeared from musical use. Its revival began in the 20th century. Paixiao served as a prototype for the development of subsequent generations of this type of instrument.
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The Chinese suona oboe (唢呐, suǒnà), also known as laba (喇叭, lǎbā) or haidi (海笛, hǎidí), has a loud and shrill sound and is often used in Chinese music ensembles. This is an important tool in folk music northern China, especially in Shandong and Henan provinces. Suona is often used at weddings and funeral processions.
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The kunhou harp (箜篌, kōnghóu) is another plucked string instrument that came to China along the Silk Road from Western Asia.
The kunhou harp is often found on the murals of various Buddhist caves of the Tang era, indicating the widespread use of this instrument during that period.
It disappeared during the Ming Dynasty, but in the 20th century. she was revived. Kunhou was known only from frescoes in Buddhist caves, ritual funeral figurines and engravings on stone and brickwork. Then, in 1996, two complete bow-shaped kunhou harps and a number of their fragments were discovered in a tomb in Qemo County (Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region). However, the modern version of this instrument resembles a Western concert harp rather than an ancient kunhou.
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Guzheng (古箏, gǔzhēng), or zheng (箏, "gu" 古 meaning "ancient") is a Chinese zither with movable, loose string supports and 18 or more strings (the modern zheng usually has 21 strings). Zheng is the ancestor of several Asian varieties of zither: Japanese koto, Korean gayageum, Vietnamese đàn tranh.
Although the original title of this painting is “Zheng,” the image depicted here is still a guqin (古琴) - a Chinese seven-string zither. Guqin and guzheng are similar in shape, but they are easy to distinguish: while the guzheng has a support under each string, like the Japanese koto, the guqin has no supports.
Since ancient times, the guqin was a favorite instrument of scientists and thinkers; it was considered an exquisite and sophisticated instrument and was associated with Confucius. He was also called the “father of Chinese music” and “the instrument of the sages.”
Previously, the instrument was simply called "qin", but by the 20th century. this term came to mean a whole series musical instruments: dulcimer-like Yangqin, Huqin family of stringed instruments, Western piano, etc. Then the prefix “gu” (古), i.e. "ancient, and was added to the name. Sometimes you can also find the name "qixiaqin", i.e. "seven-string musical instrument."
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Dizi (笛子, dízi) is a Chinese transverse flute. It is also called di (笛) or hendi (橫笛). The di flute is one of the most common Chinese musical instruments, and can be found in folk music ensembles, modern orchestras, and Chinese opera. It is believed that dizi came to China from Tibet during the Han Dynasty. Dizi has always been popular in China, which is not surprising, because... it is easy to make and easy to carry.
Today, this instrument is typically made from high quality black bamboo with one blow hole, one membrane hole and six playing holes cut along its entire length. In the north, di is made from black (purple) bamboo, in the south, in Suzhou and Hangzhou, from white bamboo. Southern di, as a rule, are very thin, light and have a quiet sound. However, it would be more correct to call di a “membrane flute,” since its characteristic, sonorous timbre is caused by the vibration of a thin paper membrane, which seals a special sound hole on the flute body.
According to history, in the distant past there were at least a thousand musical instruments, only half of which have survived to this day.
Then the Chinese traditional instruments classified according to the material from which they were made. Thus, there were metal, bamboo, silk, stone, string, leather, clay, wooden and gourd musical instruments.
Today, Chinese national musical instruments are still made in the traditional way, but their modern classification looks different.
Woodwind instruments
Di- an ancient wind instrument. It is a transverse flute with 6 holes in the body. Traditionally made from bamboo or cane. Next to the hole for blowing air into the body of the di there is another hole, covered with a very thin reed film, due to which the timbre of the di is very rich and sonorous.
Sheng- labial organ. It is made from thin reed or bamboo tubes of various lengths, which are mounted in a bowl-shaped body with a mouthpiece. The sound of sheng has bright expressiveness and graceful variability. Not a single folklore concert is complete without this instrument.
Gong- a metal idiophone with an indefinite pitch. Produces a rich, lingering sound with a dark timbre. After impact, the instrument vibrates for a long time, creating a three-dimensional sound that grows and recedes. The gong is an obligatory instrument in the folk ensemble.
Chinese analogue of the Pan flute. It consists of 12 bamboo tubes connected to each other in a descending row: from the longest to the shortest. This structural feature provides a wide range of sound. It has a soft and gentle timbre.
Bowed strings
Erhu- two-string violin with a cylindrical resonator. While playing, the musician with his right hand pulls the string of the bow, which is fixed between metal strings and forms a single whole with the instrument. When playing with the left hand, transverse vibrato is used.
Plucked hammer
Yangqin- a string instrument, similar in structure and method of sound production to cymbals. Used as a solo, ensemble instrument, and also as an accompaniment in opera.
String plucked instrument, a type of zither. The guqin is the most characteristic instrument of ancient Chinese music.
If you are interested not only in historical, but also in modern musical instruments, we invite you and your children to our classes. Here you can try your hand at mastering pop musical instruments, attend piano classes for beginners, vocal arts, and gain experience playing music group, as well as performances on stage.
The first mentions of music in China are found already in the Qin era (2nd century BC). Gaining pleasure through listening to music was praised by Confucius. The great sage himself played musical instruments, first of all, of course, the “king of all instruments” - the gutsin.
Even then, many forms of ensemble music were formed. For example, the most famous duet of silk and bamboo (丝竹 si zhu). It is named after the materials from which the instruments included in the duet are made.
In general, in China there are eight categories of tools depending on the material:
- bamboo
- tree
- metal
- stone
- gourd pumpkin
- earth (clay)
Guqin (qin)
Many legendary names are associated with guqin Chinese history: Confucius, poets Li Bo, Tao Yuan Ming, Bo Juyi, commander Gzhuge Liang - all played the qin and sang it in their sayings and works.
The very shape of the qin - rounded on top and flat below - symbolizes the “circle” of Heaven and the “square” of Earth, as they are understood in Chinese natural philosophy. That is, the guqin instrument itself is the whole world, everything that exists between heaven and earth.
All instrument measurements also have a symbolic meaning:
- The length of the guqin is 36 cun (a Chinese unit of measurement equal to approximately 3.73 cm), which symbolizes 360 days a year
- There are 13 points on the qin's body for orientation during the game. They represent 12 months and 1 month of a leap year.
- the widest point of the instrument is 8 cun, which means eight winds.
- and the narrowest is 4 cun, seasons of the year.
"Night Cries of Ravens"
Guzheng (zheng)
IN explanatory dictionary It is explained that the name of the instrument comes from the sounds it makes: “zheng-zheng-zheng.”
Unlike the qin, the guzheng has pegs that can be used to influence the pitch of the sound. A similar instrument is often found in Southeast Asian countries. For example, in Japan it is koto, in Korea it is kayageum.
The number of strings in the guzhen in ancient times was first thirteen, then fifteen, and now it can reach twenty-one and even twenty-four.
"A blooming moonlit night on a spring river"
Pipa
The name comes from the technique of playing the pipa. The technique when the string is played from above is called “pi”, from below: “pa”.
The pipa has 4 strings and the body has frets.
There are two types of pipa pieces: large-scale and miniature. In terms of style, these plays can differ in character: military or secular.
There was one famous battle in history. The legendary struggle between the kingdoms of Chu and Han in China is still remembered today. One of the most famous plays for pipa is of a military nature and describes those events. How ancient this play is can be judged by the fact that there is a 700-year-old recording that describes how a person felt when listening to it. A very colorful play in which you can hear the neighing of horses, the blows of weapons, and the screams of people. In each small section you can recognize a specific battle scene.
"Siege on all sides"
Erhu
Er (二 er) means “two” (pipa has two strings), and hu is the name of the people who lived to the north and west of China in ancient times.
Starting from the Tang era, the instrument came to China and became widespread. There even appears a whole family of instruments - huqin - consisting of different varieties of erhu.
Erhu is often used in folk and theatrical music, solo or to accompany singing.
Used in various accompaniments different types from the zucin family. The most common type: the bow is threaded between the strings, the body is covered with boa constrictor skin. Also common are the banhu - with an entirely wooden body - and the jinghu, which is used in Peking Opera and is entirely made of bamboo.
"Reflection of the moon in two bodies of water"
Didza flute
Made from bamboo. Due to the fact that the idea is quite simple, many nations have come to the invention of such a tool. The didza, however, has a difference from other flutes - a film is glued to one of the holes. It allows you to make the sound more sonorous. In the south a long didza is used, in the north a short one is used.
8,000-year-old didza-like tools made from bone have been discovered in China. In ancient times, the hieroglyph “di” included in the name of the instrument also meant “to wash”, “to cleanse”. Therefore, didzas are called an instrument that purifies the soul.
Shen
This extravagant instrument consists of three parts: the body, the tubes and the reed with a lip hole. Surprisingly, this instrument with a rather intricate design dates back more than two thousand years. In ancient shen, however, the body was made of gourd, so this instrument falls into this category. In China, accordions and the organ are believed to have originated from shen.
Look at the game on the Shene and - it is possible to make sounds on it both during inhalation and exhalation.
Sona
Some say that the sona came to China from Persia. Now this tool is widely used in many folk rituals from weddings to funerals.
The incredible composition “One Hundred Birds Meet the Phoenix” is often played at weddings - in it you can hear the imitation of the joyful sounds of birds.
Ocarina Xun
It belongs to the category of earth, as it is made of clay.
The history goes back more than 7000 years. According to legend, the Xun came from an ancient throwing weapon. Ancestors often used stones or lumps of clay on a rope when hunting. Some of them were hollow and made whistling sounds in flight. People liked it, and subsequently they began to specially blow into hollow pieces of clay or hollowed out stones, extracting these sounds, and then making such instruments themselves.
Playing the Xiong by Professor Wang Jianxin of the Tianjin Conservatory:
Xiao
One of the most important instruments and the traditional pair of guqin in the famous duet 丝竹 – silk and bamboo. At the upper end of the flute there is a hole inclined inward, into which the performer directs air. Initially, the xiao had only four finger holes, but later two more were added to them: five on the front side and one on the back.
The length of xiao can vary in different regions and can be from 50 to 75 centimeters and longer. In Japan, this type of flute is known as shakuhachi.
China is a distinctive country, and this is manifested in all its components, including musical culture. Tourists who know a lot about music and want new experiences on this front will be pleasantly surprised by tours to China.
Traditional Chinese music is very different from anything that the ears of Western civilization are accustomed to hearing. National musical instruments are played in it, and a special staging of performances can be traced.
The Origin and Development of Chinese Folk Music
This type of art in China dates back to the 5th century BC, with a work called “The Book of Songs.” This collection contained 305 lyric poems.
The next stage in the development of traditional Chinese music is the creation in the 4th century BC. song and poetry school, founded by Qu Yuan. His most significant contribution is a collection called “Chu stanzas”.
The reign of the Han and Zhou dynasties was a favorable era for the development of the musical institution in China. Specially appointed officials collected folklore. Confucianism had a serious influence on music at this time; ceremonial and religious notes can often be heard in the works of this time.
Labial organ (sheng)
During the Tang and Song dynasties, music science continued to develop. Composers wrote hymns, works for a wide and narrow public, lyrics, praised the Chinese people, and the beauty of nature.
Important: In traditional Chinese writing, the words “music” and “beauty” are written with the same character, differing only in pronunciation.
VII-XI centuries are notable for their appearance in China musical theater and traditional Chinese opera. The plays were complex performances that included dance, music, costumes, dialogue and actors.
Until the 17th century, Chinese music developed in a closed environment. Traditions that originated thousands of years ago were transformed into meager genres that differed little from each other, and only at the beginning XVIII century progress began in the formation of new directions in music.
By the 20th century, China began to actively borrow Western trends in music, while maintaining exceptional authenticity. Until the beginning of the new millennium, several hundred musical genres appeared in the Celestial Empire, one way or another, having a basis in traditional folk culture.
Chinese folk instruments
Dizi
Dizi, or simply Di is a wooden transverse flute, actively used in almost all areas of Chinese music. According to legend, the instrument was created specifically for the Yellow Emperor Huangdi. There are several versions of the Di flute - they are made from wood, bone and even jade.
Sheng
Chinese labial organ, or sheng, is one of the symbols of traditional music of the Celestial Empire. The classic sheng organ had 12 octaves of sound, thanks to tubes made of bamboo. Modern instruments made of metal, they are divided into three types according to the pitch of sound - top, alto and bass.
Gong
Perhaps the most famous of the Chinese folk instruments, for the first centuries of its existence it was used only for ceremonies and rituals. Now gong has more than 30 varieties, each of which is an attribute of its musical genre- from classics to experimental rock.
Chinese violin (erhu)
Paixiao
Chinese version of panflute - paixiao- was invented back in the 2nd millennium BC. The instrument has survived to this day almost unchanged - 12 bamboo tubes form a single flute with a soft but deep sound.
Guan
The closest Chinese relative of the oboe. Guan is a reed flute made from bamboo or other types of wood. Classic instrument has a row of 9 holes, although in lately Shortened versions of guan also became popular.
Erhu
Traditional chinese violin with two strings. Sounds as close to typical as possible bowed instruments with high order. Currently one of the most popular instruments throughout the East Asian region. Often erhu can also be heard in the music of Western folk groups.
Qixianqin (guqin)
Qixianqin
One of the oldest Chinese instruments, which has a second name - guqin. A plucked string instrument, a kind of analogue of a classical guitar. Sound range - 4 or more octaves. In the classical version, it has 7 strings, tuned very close to the guitar, the notches on the “neck” correspond to the chromatic sound and traditional pentatonic scale.
Pipa
Chinese variety lutes. Unlike its European “sister”, pipa It has only 4 strings and a limited sound range. It was allegedly invented in the 3rd century, but is now actively used in folk orchestras, as well as in solo performances of performers.
Chinese lute (pipa)
Modern genres of Chinese music
Junguo Feng
Modern genre Chinese music - Junguo Feng- appeared in beginning of XXI century. In fact, it is a mixture of all popular Western genres with a unique Asian flavor. The style does not have strict boundaries and is highly dependent on current fashion trends.
Mengu Mingge
Mongolian style - Mengu Mingge- despite the closeness of the cultures of the two peoples and the entire region of Inner Mongolia is exotic for most Chinese. For the Celestial Empire, this genre is often on the same level as European folk, although in its sound and stage setting it is, of course, Asian aesthetics.
Xian Mingge
By the end of the 20th century, the traditional tunes of Tibet turned into one of the genres of Chinese pop music. Xian Mingge now it is one of the most popular pop styles from the regional level to state concerts. The melodious melodies of Tibet are often used in various Chinese vocal schools.
Daitsu Minge
Traditional genre Yunnan Province - Daitsu Minge- these are major songs and instrumental compositions for fast dances. Frequent element of performance - mixed choir from men's and women's voices. The signature instrument of the genre is hulusi flute.
Lao Shanghai
A genre that appeared during the colonial era of Shanghai Lao- is a symbiosis of the traditions of cabaret and jazz with folk melodies southern provinces of China. The genre was finally formed by the 1930s, and since then it has been actively introduced into various layers of Chinese music. An indispensable attribute of Lao are blues and jazz ballads in the style of the golden age of Hollywood and the “gangster” image of the musicians.
Gantai Gekyu
Term Gantai Gekyu- a virtual synonym for Chinese variety music performed in Cantonese or Mandarin. For a long time, the two versions of the texts were irreconcilable competitors, but now there is a weakening of contradictions and a certain symbiosis of dialects. At official concerts in Beijing, songs written in Mandarin predominate, while Cantonese is closer to Hong Kong or Shanghai.
Xiaonan Mingyao
Chinese student song - Xiaonan Mingyao- this is a unique phenomenon in national music, comparable only to the culture of Soviet bards. In fact, this is one of the analogues of an original song performed to the accompaniment of acoustic guitar with minimal involvement of other tools. The lyrics range from romance to protest.
Xibei Feng
Genre based on northwest Chinese music Xibei Feng absorbed the traditions of regional opera and borrowings from European culture. Distinctive feature- a rich rhythm section and vivid lyrics on highly social topics. The genre is often called the Chinese version of American pop rock.
Yaogong
Chinese word yaogong It is customary to call rock music in all its manifestations - from classic rock and roll to heavy metal. This genre appeared in China relatively late - only in the late 1980s, but with the development of culture it instantly became popular. Nowadays, several thousand groups and solo artists throughout the country work in the yaogong genre. In Beijing and other cities, entire schools have been founded to train musicians of this genre.
Xiao Qinxin
The genre appeared in the mid-2000s Xiao Qinxin became a kind of response of Chinese youth to the emergence of hipster culture. Qinxin's music is based on minimalist arrangements and sentimental lyrics about love and modern world. Of the Western genres, the closest one is - indie pop.
Yueqin
Yueqin (月琴, yuèqín, i.e. “moon lute”), or zhuan ((阮), is a type of lute with a round resonator body. The zhuan has 4 strings and a short neck with frets (usually 24). There are also a zhuan with an octagonal body. It is played with a plectrum. The instrument has a melodic sound reminiscent of a classical guitar and is used both for solo play and in orchestra.
In ancient times, the zhuan was called "pipa" or "qin pipa" (i.e. pipa of the Qin dynasty). However, after the ancestor of the modern pipa came to China along the Silk Road during the Tang dynasty (about 5th century AD), the name "pipa" was assigned to the new instrument, and the lute with a short neck and a round body began to be called " zhuan" - named after the musician who played it, Zhuan Xian(3rd century AD) . Ruan Xian was one of the seven great scholars known as the "Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove".
_____________________________________________________Dizi
Dizi (笛子, dízi) is a Chinese transverse flute. It is also called di (笛) or hendi (橫笛). The di flute is one of the most common Chinese musical instruments, and can be found in folk music ensembles, modern orchestras, and Chinese opera. Dizi has always been popular in China, which is not surprising, because... it is easy to make and easy to carry. Its characteristic, sonorous timbre is caused by the vibration of a thin bamboo membrane, which seals a special sound hole on the flute body.
______________________________________________________Qing
The "sounding stone" or qing (磬) is one of the oldest instruments in China. Usually it was given a shape similar to the Latin letter L, since its outlines resemble the respectful pose of a person during a ritual. It is mentioned that this was one of the instruments played by Confucius. During the Han Dynasty, the sound of this instrument was believed to remind the monarch of the warriors who died defending the borders of the empire.
______________________________________________________Sheng
Sheng (笙, shēng) is a labial organ, a reed wind instrument made of vertical tubes. This is one of the most ancient musical instruments in China: its first images date back to 1100 BC, and some shengs from the Han Dynasty have survived to this day. Traditionally, sheng is used as an accompaniment when playing the suona or dizi.
______________________________________________________Erhu
The Erhu (二胡, èrhú), a two-string violin, has perhaps the most expressive voice of all bowed string instruments. The erhu is played both solo and in ensembles. It is the most popular stringed instrument among various ethnic groups in China. When playing the erhu, many complex technical bowing and finger techniques are used. The erhu violin often acts as the leading instrument in an orchestra of traditional Chinese national instruments and in the performance of string and wind music.
The word "erhu" is composed of the characters for "two" and "barbarian", as this two-stringed instrument came to China about 1000 years ago thanks to the northern nomadic peoples.
Modern erhus are made of valuable wood, the resonator is covered with python skin. The bow is made of bamboo, on which a horsehair string is stretched. During playing, the musician pulls the string of the bow with the fingers of his right hand, and the bow itself is fixed between two strings, forming a single whole with the erhu.
Pipa
Pipa (琵琶, pípa) is a 4-string plucked musical instrument, which is sometimes also called the Chinese lute. One of the most common and famous Chinese musical instruments. The pipa has been played in China for more than 1,500 years: the ancestor of the pipa, whose homeland is the area between the Tigris and Euphrates (the Fertile Crescent region) in the Middle East, came to China along the ancient Silk Road in the 4th century. n. e. Traditionally, the pipa was used mainly for solo play, less often in folk music ensembles, usually in southeast China, or to accompany storytellers.
The name "pipa" is associated with the way the instrument is played: "pi" means moving the fingers down the strings, and "pa" means moving the fingers back up. The sound is produced by a plectrum, but sometimes also by a fingernail, which is given a special shape.
Several similar East Asian instruments are derived from the pipa: the Japanese biwa, the Vietnamese đàn tỳ bà, and the Korean bipa.
______________________________________________________Xiao
(箫, xiāo) is a vertical flute, usually made of bamboo. This very ancient instrument appears to be descended from the flute of the Tibetan-related Qiang people of southwestern China. An idea of this flute is given by ceramic funerary figurines dating back to the Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD).
Xiao flutes have a clear sound suitable for playing beautiful melodies that are soothing to the ear. They are often used in solo performance, in ensemble and to accompany traditional Chinese opera.
______________________________________________________Xuangu
(suspended drum)
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Paixiao
Paixiāo (排箫, páixiāo) is a type of pan flute. Over time, the instrument disappeared from musical use. Its revival began in the 20th century. Paixiao served as a prototype for the development of subsequent generations of this type of instrument.
______________________________________________________Suona
The Chinese suona oboe (唢呐, suǒnà), also known as laba (喇叭, lǎbā) or haidi (海笛, hǎidí), has a loud and shrill sound and is often used in Chinese music ensembles. It is an important instrument in the folk music of northern China, especially in Shandong and Henan provinces. Suona is often used at weddings and funeral processions.
______________________________________________________Kunhou
The kunhou harp (箜篌, kōnghóu) is another plucked string instrument that came to China along the Silk Road from Western Asia.
The kunhou harp is often found on the murals of various Buddhist caves of the Tang era, indicating the widespread use of this instrument during that period.
It disappeared during the Ming Dynasty, but in the 20th century. she was revived. Kunhou was known only from frescoes in Buddhist caves, ritual funeral figurines and engravings on stone and brickwork. Then, in 1996, two complete bow-shaped kunhou harps and a number of their fragments were discovered in a tomb in Qemo County (Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region). However, the modern version of this instrument resembles a Western concert harp rather than an ancient kunhou.
______________________________________________________Zheng
The guzheng (古箏, gǔzhēng), or zheng (箏, "gu" 古 meaning "ancient") is a Chinese zither with movable, loose string supports and 18 or more strings (the modern guzheng usually has 21 strings). Zheng is the ancestor of several Asian varieties of zither: Japanese koto, Korean gayageum, Vietnamese đàn tranh.
Although the original name of this painting is “Zheng,” the image depicted here is still a guqin (古琴) - a Chinese seven-string zither. Guqin and guzheng are similar in shape, but they are easy to distinguish: while the guzheng has a support under each string, like the Japanese koto, the guqin has no supports and has about 3 times fewer strings.
Since ancient times, the guqin was a favorite instrument of scientists and thinkers; it was considered an exquisite and sophisticated instrument and was associated with Confucius. He was also called the “father of Chinese music” and “the instrument of the sages.”
Previously, the instrument was simply called "qin", but by the 20th century. this term began to denote a whole range of musical instruments: the yangqin, similar to the dulcimer, the huqin family of stringed instruments, the Western piano, etc. Then the prefix “gu” (古), i.e. "ancient, and was added to the name. Sometimes you can also find the name "qixiaqin", i.e. "seven-string musical instrument."