About Guzheng 關於古箏

Guzheng (zheng 箏, gu 古 means "ancient"), is a Chinese plucked zither.  It has 16 or more strings and movable bridges, and the modern guzheng usually has 21 strings and bridges.

The guzheng is the ancestor of several other Asian types of zither instruments. Its descendants spread all over Asia, such as the Koto in Japan, the Kayagum in Korea and the Dan Tranh in Vietnam.

 

16-steel stringed guzheng

16-steel stringed guzheng

 

Silk strings were originally used for the guzheng, but these have been replaced with metal strings or metal strings wrapped with nylon. The player plucks the strings on the right side with the right hand, while the left hand presses the strings on the left to produce a vibrato sound.

 

21-stringed guzheng

21-stringed guzheng

 

The guzheng and its music have seen continuous development thoughout history. Guzheng music has maintained its vitality by interweaving its traditional repertoire with the rich heritage of folk songs; it has also continuously been revitalized by the creativity of each generation of performers. In the late 20th century, with the tremendous changes in the social and cultural environment, and with its continued popularity in general, the guzheng began to be taught in professional music conservatories. Since then, the combined influence of professional and folk musicians has produced novel improvements and enrichments in the guzheng repertoire – the outstanding example being the emergence of many new compositions. With its rich traditional resevoir and modern developments combined, the guzheng has once again become a Chinese instrument of major importance.