Plucking at the strings of the nation's heart
1 year, 6 months ago

Plucking at the strings of the nation's heart

China Daily  

Editor's note: There are 43 items inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage lists that not only bear witness to the past glories of Chinese civilization, but also continue to shine today. In this installment, we discover why guqin, a musical instrument with a history spanning three millennia, still strikes a chord with Chinese music lovers. Zide Guqin Studio uses modern means to popularize the ancient zither, as well as other traditional musical instruments, among a younger audience. WANG JING/CHINA DAILY Indeed, the guqin — the favored instrument of Confucius — was an essential musical instrument of ancient China's educated elite. "The Chinese zither has existed for more than 3,000 years and represents China's foremost solo musical instrument tradition.

China Chinese China Daily Instrument Unesco Zhong Guqin  heart  guqin  instrument  strings  plucking  cultural  zither  chinese  history  ancient  wu  nations  played  musical

History of this topic

Ancient, modern elements in harmony for new generation
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Ancient, modern elements in harmony for new generation

The Independent  

In a sleek recording studio, young Chinese musicians are gathered around their instruments. Traditional Chinese musicians and classical musicians perform together in Chengdu, Sichuan province They are part of a larger movement sweeping China that celebrates the rising popularity of guofeng music — a Chinese style that uses elements from traditional culture. As part of a video series called Crazy …

Ancient Meets Modern: A Symphony of Instruments in Chengdu
2 months ago

Ancient Meets Modern: A Symphony of Instruments in Chengdu

China Daily  

An impromptu concert takes place in Chengdu, Sichuan province, featuring traditional Chinese musicians and classical musicians. The musicians perform a modern rendition of a popular song from the 1990s, combining disco beats with ancient Chinese melodies. Their performance, released to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, garnered over 15 million views on social media.

Ancient Meets Modern: A Symphony of Instruments in Chengdu
2 months ago

Ancient Meets Modern: A Symphony of Instruments in Chengdu

China Daily  

An impromptu concert takes place in Chengdu, Sichuan province, featuring traditional Chinese musicians and classical musicians. The musicians perform a modern rendition of a popular song from the 1990s, combining disco beats with ancient Chinese melodies. Their performance, released to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, garnered over 15 million views on social media.

How one man's effort made duxianqin popular
4 months ago

How one man's effort made duxianqin popular

China Daily  

An artist plays a duxianqin at a tourism promotion event held in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. In his folding screen-adorned Zen-style studio, Wei Qingbing, 39, sat on the bamboo mat-paved floor and plucked the string on his duxianqin — literally "a single-stringed zither" — with his right hand, in a vivid rendering of a melodic tune, his left hand …

Elevating the guzheng's legacy
5 months ago

Elevating the guzheng's legacy

China Daily  

Ji Wei, a renowned guzheng artist, enhances the traditional Chinese instrument's appeal and global presence through cultural outreach. "The sound of the guzheng can convey both melancholic and cheerful emotions: its lower range exudes solemn and dignified music, its middle range displays great tenderness, and its high notes can be incredibly majestic," Ji explained. "It was then that I realized …

Elevating the guzheng's legacy
5 months ago

Elevating the guzheng's legacy

China Daily  

Ji Wei, a renowned guzheng artist, enhances the traditional Chinese instrument's appeal and global presence through cultural outreach. "The sound of the guzheng can convey both melancholic and cheerful emotions: its lower range exudes solemn and dignified music, its middle range displays great tenderness, and its high notes can be incredibly majestic," Ji explained. "It was then that I realized …

Guqin players show their style
9 months ago

Guqin players show their style

China Daily  

Concerts gathering guqin masters from Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland were staged in Beijing on Friday and Saturday. Guqin masters, including Sou Si-tai, Tse Chun-yan and young performers, including Maggie Lai and Karman Li, shared the stage with guqin artists, Li Fengyun, Zhang Zisheng as well as instrumentalists, such as Cheng Chai-man. "Guqin artists from Hong Kong have been …

Guqin players show their style
9 months ago

Guqin players show their style

China Daily  

Concerts gathering guqin masters from Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland were staged in Beijing on Friday and Saturday. Guqin masters, including Sou Si-tai, Tse Chun-yan and young performers, including Maggie Lai and Karman Li, shared the stage with guqin artists, Li Fengyun, Zhang Zisheng as well as instrumentalists, such as Cheng Chai-man. "Guqin artists from Hong Kong have been …

HK artisan values allure of traditional instrument
1 year, 1 month ago

HK artisan values allure of traditional instrument

China Daily  

Choi Chang-sau, 90, a guqin maker, sitting in his workshop in Hong Kong. Little did Choi know that this encounter would ignite a lifelong love affair with the guqin, an instrument that has resonated through Chinese history for over three millennia. Xu was a virtuoso in guqin performance, the interpretation of ancient scores, and the art of making the instrument, …

HK artisan values allure of traditional instrument
1 year, 1 month ago

HK artisan values allure of traditional instrument

China Daily  

Choi Chang-sau, 90, a guqin maker, sitting in his workshop in Hong Kong. Little did Choi know that this encounter would ignite a lifelong love affair with the guqin, an instrument that has resonated through Chinese history for over three millennia. Xu was a virtuoso in guqin performance, the interpretation of ancient scores, and the art of making the instrument, …

Maestro brings ancient Chinese sounds to London
1 year, 2 months ago

Maestro brings ancient Chinese sounds to London

China Daily  

Pipa and guqin virtuoso Cheng Yu. During the afternoon of the second Saturday of every second month the musician Cheng Yu dresses in traditional Chinese attire and takes a guqin and pipa to a special gathering she started in London 20 years ago. The gathering Cheng initiated, called yaji, is a tradition among Chinese literati that goes back more than …

Maestro brings ancient Chinese sounds to London
1 year, 2 months ago

Maestro brings ancient Chinese sounds to London

China Daily  

Pipa and guqin virtuoso Cheng Yu. During the afternoon of the second Saturday of every second month the musician Cheng Yu dresses in traditional Chinese attire and takes a guqin and pipa to a special gathering she started in London 20 years ago. The gathering Cheng initiated, called yaji, is a tradition among Chinese literati that goes back more than …

Plucking at the strings of the nation's heart
1 year, 6 months ago

Plucking at the strings of the nation's heart

China Daily  

Editor's note: There are 43 items inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage lists that not only bear witness to the past glories of Chinese civilization, but also continue to shine today. In this installment, we discover why guqin, a musical instrument with a history spanning three millennia, still strikes a chord with Chinese music lovers. Zide Guqin Studio uses modern …

An instrument of knowledge
1 year, 6 months ago

An instrument of knowledge

China Daily  

The Zide Guqin Studio is most notable as a folk music ensemble that incorporates guqin and other musical instruments. CHINA DAILY Apart from learning and working, they also formed an NGO that organizes guqin gatherings for fellow enthusiasts, resembling the traditional salons frequented by scholars and literati in ancient China. Listed as "the four friends of literati", alongside chess, calligraphy …

An instrument of knowledge
1 year, 6 months ago

An instrument of knowledge

China Daily  

The Zide Guqin Studio is most notable as a folk music ensemble that incorporates guqin and other musical instruments. They first experimented on a short film series titled Guqin Clinic, and gradually developed their unique style, creating music videos that focus on the beauty of the instrument and reach a wider audience. According to Tang, also the studio's artistic director, …

Plucking at the strings of the nation's heart
1 year, 6 months ago

Plucking at the strings of the nation's heart

China Daily  

Editor's note: There are 43 items inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage lists that not only bear witness to the past glories of Chinese civilization, but also continue to shine today. In this installment, we discover why guqin, a musical instrument with a history spanning three millennia, still strikes a chord with Chinese music lovers. Zide Guqin Studio uses modern …

An instrument of knowledge
1 year, 6 months ago

An instrument of knowledge

China Daily  

The Zide Guqin Studio is most notable as a folk music ensemble that incorporates guqin and other musical instruments. Despite facing disapproval from her parents, who had invested in her guzheng journey, she remained resolute in learning the guqin and started working part-time to fund her studies at the Tianjin conservatory. Captivated by a guqin performance in director Zhang Yimou's …

An instrument of knowledge
1 year, 6 months ago

An instrument of knowledge

China Daily  

Tang Bin is a founding member and the artistic director of the Zide Guqin Studio. CHINA DAILY When ancient Chinese mentioned qin, a word that now refers to a range of instruments, it would be likely that they were only talking about one instrument — guqin, the seven-stringed zither. The ethereal timbre and elegant appearance of guqin have long elevated …

An instrument of knowledge
1 year, 6 months ago

An instrument of knowledge

China Daily  

Tang Bin is a founding member and the artistic director of the Zide Guqin Studio. CHINA DAILY When ancient Chinese mentioned qin, a word that now refers to a range of instruments, it would be likely that they were only talking about one instrument — guqin, the seven-stringed zither. The ethereal timbre and elegant appearance of guqin have long elevated …

An instrument of knowledge
1 year, 6 months ago

An instrument of knowledge

China Daily  

Tang Bin is a founding member and the artistic director of the Zide Guqin Studio. CHINA DAILY When ancient Chinese mentioned qin, a word that now refers to a range of instruments, it would be likely that they were only talking about one instrument — guqin, the seven-stringed zither. The ethereal timbre and elegant appearance of guqin have long elevated …

Plucking at the strings of the nation's heart
1 year, 6 months ago

Plucking at the strings of the nation's heart

China Daily  

Editor's note: There are 43 items inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage lists that not only bear witness to the past glories of Chinese civilization, but also continue to shine today. In this installment, we discover why guqin, a musical instrument with a history spanning three millennia, still strikes a chord with Chinese music lovers. Zide Guqin Studio uses modern …

An instrument of knowledge
1 year, 6 months ago

An instrument of knowledge

China Daily  

Tang Bin is a founding member and the artistic director of the Zide Guqin Studio. CHINA DAILY When ancient Chinese mentioned qin, a word that now refers to a range of instruments, it would be likely that they were only talking about one instrument — guqin, the seven-stringed zither. The ethereal timbre and elegant appearance of guqin have long elevated …

An instrument of knowledge
1 year, 6 months ago

An instrument of knowledge

China Daily  

The Zide Guqin Studio is most notable as a folk music ensemble that incorporates guqin and other musical instruments. They first experimented on a short film series titled Guqin Clinic, and gradually developed their unique style, creating music videos that focus on the beauty of the instrument and reach a wider audience. According to Tang, also the studio's artistic director, …

Living Heritage: Guqin
1 year, 6 months ago

Living Heritage: Guqin

China Daily  

Wandering sounds, irregular rhythms and a carrier of gentle emotions. This is the musical language of guqin, a plucked seven string instrument created in ancient China. The earliest piece of guqin in China, unearthed in Hubei province in 2016, dates back to the Zhou Dynasty. As he played his guqin in the mountains, a woodcutter named Zhong Ziqi heard the …

Living Heritage: Guqin
1 year, 6 months ago

Living Heritage: Guqin

China Daily  

Wandering sounds, irregular rhythms and a carrier of gentle emotions. This is the musical language of guqin, a plucked seven string instrument created in ancient China. The earliest piece of guqin in China, unearthed in Hubei province in 2016, dates back to the Zhou Dynasty. As he played his guqin in the mountains, a woodcutter named Zhong Ziqi heard the …

Sound of the past, note for the future
1 year, 7 months ago

Sound of the past, note for the future

China Daily  

Shen introduces the xiao to an attentive audience in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, in January. While learning the instrument, Shen was increasingly fascinated by the rich cultural connotations contained in the xiao. For example, Song Dynasty poet Su Shi once wrote, "Better to eat without meat than live without bamboo", suggesting the importance of bamboo in their hearts. Therefore, the xiao, made …

Sound of the past, note for the future
1 year, 7 months ago

Sound of the past, note for the future

China Daily  

Xiao musician Shen Yingbiao plays the traditional Chinese musical instrument with another performer playing guqin at a concert in Shanghai last year. Often accompanying the guqin, a zither-like seven-stringed traditional musical instrument, the xiao, a traditional vertical bamboo flute with a relatively light sound, was often viewed as a foil. Shen was infatuated with the instrument after he bought a …

Sound of the past, note for the future
1 year, 7 months ago

Sound of the past, note for the future

China Daily  

Xiao musician Shen Yingbiao plays the traditional Chinese musical instrument with another performer playing guqin at a concert in Shanghai last year. Often accompanying the guqin, a zither-like seven-stringed traditional musical instrument, the xiao, a traditional vertical bamboo flute with a relatively light sound, was often viewed as a foil. Shen was infatuated with the instrument after he bought a …

Sound of the past, note for the future
1 year, 7 months ago

Sound of the past, note for the future

China Daily  

Xiao musician Shen Yingbiao plays the traditional Chinese musical instrument with another performer playing guqin at a concert in Shanghai last year. Often accompanying the guqin, a zither-like seven-stringed traditional musical instrument, the xiao, a traditional vertical bamboo flute with a relatively light sound, was often viewed as a foil. Shen was infatuated with the instrument after he bought a …

American guqin player infuses ancient Chinese instrument with modern spirit
1 year, 8 months ago

American guqin player infuses ancient Chinese instrument with modern spirit

China Daily  

Jacob Charles plays the guqin. Jacob Charles is a Mexican-American intermedia artist, composer and guqin player. Charles hopes to popularize this traditional Chinese instrument, and enlighten more people about the fascinating nature of Chinese culture. Charles said he has dedicated himself to creating a new musical language, one that conveys both a sense of tranquility and the plurality of combining …

American guqin player infuses ancient Chinese instrument with modern spirit
1 year, 8 months ago

American guqin player infuses ancient Chinese instrument with modern spirit

China Daily  

Jacob Charles plays the guqin. Jacob Charles is a Mexican-American intermedia artist, composer and guqin player. Charles hopes to popularize this traditional Chinese instrument, and enlighten more people about the fascinating nature of Chinese culture. Charles said he has dedicated himself to creating a new musical language, one that conveys both a sense of tranquility and the plurality of combining …

Instrument of diplomacy
1 year, 9 months ago

Instrument of diplomacy

China Daily  

Su Haizhen's students play duxianqin on the beach of Wanwei, an island in Dongxing, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, on Nov 18, 2021. Duxianqin, or one-string dulcimer, is a traditional musical instrument of the Jing ethnic group. As its name suggests, the old musical instrument — with a history dating to the 8th century — has only one string and is …

On a string and a prayer
2 years, 7 months ago

On a string and a prayer

China Daily  

Guqin player and craftsman Yang Lan plays the instrument during a gathering with friends in Nantong, Jiangsu province, in 2021. After taking a risk by dropping out of school at the age of 16, two decades later, Yang Lan has crafted a comfortable life by playing, teaching and making guqin, Wang Ru reports. When Yang Lan first became attracted to …

On a string and a prayer
2 years, 7 months ago

On a string and a prayer

China Daily  

Guqin player and craftsman Yang Lan plays the instrument during a gathering with friends in Nantong, Jiangsu province, in 2021. After taking a risk by dropping out of school at the age of 16, two decades later, Yang Lan has crafted a comfortable life by playing, teaching and making guqin, Wang Ru reports. When Yang Lan first became attracted to …

On a string and a prayer
2 years, 7 months ago

On a string and a prayer

China Daily  

Guqin player and craftsman Yang Lan plays the instrument during a gathering with friends in Nantong, Jiangsu province, in 2021. After taking a risk by dropping out of school at the age of 16, two decades later, Yang Lan has crafted a comfortable life by playing, teaching and making guqin, Wang Ru reports. When Yang Lan first became attracted to …

Sound of Tang music
2 years, 11 months ago

Sound of Tang music

China Daily  

Musicians in Tang Dynasty attire play re-created ancient musical instruments at a concert, Music Along the Silk Road－Echo of the Tang Dynasty, at the Shangyin Opera House in Shanghai on Jan 6. The concert, Music Along the Silk Road－Echo of the Tang Dynasty, which took place at the Shangyin Opera House in Shanghai on Jan 6, was one of the …

Sound of Tang music
2 years, 11 months ago

Sound of Tang music

China Daily  

Musicians in Tang Dynasty attire play re-created ancient musical instruments at a concert, Music Along the Silk Road－Echo of the Tang Dynasty, at the Shangyin Opera House in Shanghai on Jan 6. The concert, Music Along the Silk Road－Echo of the Tang Dynasty, which took place at the Shangyin Opera House in Shanghai on Jan 6, was one of the …

Sound of Tang music
2 years, 11 months ago

Sound of Tang music

China Daily  

Musicians in Tang Dynasty attire play re-created ancient musical instruments at a concert, Music Along the Silk Road－Echo of the Tang Dynasty, at the Shangyin Opera House in Shanghai on Jan 6. The concert, Music Along the Silk Road－Echo of the Tang Dynasty, which took place at the Shangyin Opera House in Shanghai on Jan 6, was one of the …

Sound of Tang music
2 years, 11 months ago

Sound of Tang music

China Daily  

Musicians in Tang Dynasty attire play re-created ancient musical instruments at a concert, Music Along the Silk Road－Echo of the Tang Dynasty, at the Shangyin Opera House in Shanghai on Jan 6. The concert, Music Along the Silk Road－Echo of the Tang Dynasty, which took place at the Shangyin Opera House in Shanghai on Jan 6, was one of the …

Sound of Tang music
2 years, 11 months ago

Sound of Tang music

China Daily  

Musicians in Tang Dynasty attire play re-created ancient musical instruments at a concert, Music Along the Silk Road－Echo of the Tang Dynasty, at the Shangyin Opera House in Shanghai on Jan 6. The concert, Music Along the Silk Road－Echo of the Tang Dynasty, which took place at the Shangyin Opera House in Shanghai on Jan 6, was one of the …

A modern twist to the guqin , a zither that resonates through time
3 years, 8 months ago

A modern twist to the guqin , a zither that resonates through time

China Daily  

Artists from Zi De Guqin Studio play traditional Chinese instruments while wearing ancient attire. CHINA DAILY Stepping into Zi De Guqin Studio in Shanghai's Pudong, one finds skateboards resting against the wall on which ancient Chinese music instruments are hung. Zi De's creations, most of which are music videos featuring artists in ancient Chinese costumes performing traditional Chinese instruments, have …

A modern twist to the guqin , a zither that resonates through time
3 years, 8 months ago

A modern twist to the guqin , a zither that resonates through time

China Daily  

Artists from Zi De Guqin Studio play traditional Chinese instruments while wearing ancient attire. CHINA DAILY Stepping into Zi De Guqin Studio in Shanghai's Pudong, one finds skateboards resting against the wall on which ancient Chinese music instruments are hung. Zi De's creations, most of which are music videos featuring artists in ancient Chinese costumes performing traditional Chinese instruments, have …

Guqin and its music
4 years ago

Guqin and its music

China Daily  

Chen Zilai, a 7-year-old student in Shimei Primary School in Changshu, Jiangsu province, performs in a guqin concert on Aug 29. 2008，Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity The Chinese zither, called guqin, has existed for over 3,000 years and represents China’s foremost solo musical instrument tradition. San is played with the right hand and involves plucking open …

Guqin and its music
4 years ago

Guqin and its music

China Daily  

Chen Zilai, a 7-year-old student in Shimei Primary School in Changshu, Jiangsu province, performs in a guqin concert on Aug 29. 2008，Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity The Chinese zither, called guqin, has existed for over 3,000 years and represents China’s foremost solo musical instrument tradition. San is played with the right hand and involves plucking open …

Ancient instrument strikes enchanting chord of opportunity in Xinjiang
4 years, 1 month ago

Ancient instrument strikes enchanting chord of opportunity in Xinjiang

China Daily  

A visitor looks at konghou exhibits on display at the National Museum of China in August. For 15-year-old Gulzeper Muhtar in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, it is the sound of konghou, an ancient plucked string instrument. Konghou, which is shaped like a harp, is said to have been introduced into the Chinese hinterland via Xinjiang during the prime …

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