The Art of Guqin Music

The Chinese zither, called the Guqin, has existed for 3,000 years and represents China's foremost solo musical instrument tradition. Attested by early literary sources and corroborated by archaeological discoveries, this ancient instrument is inseparable from Chinese intellectual history, particularly during the Han dynasty. Guqin playing developed as an elite art form practiced by noblemen and scholars in intimate settings and was therefore never intended for public performance. Furthermore, the Guqin was one of the four arts - along with calligraphy, painting and an ancient form of chess - that Chinese scholars were expected to master. According to tradition, 20 years of training are required to attain proficiency. The art of Guqin combines a vast repertory of refined melodies and playing techniques, complex symbolic significance and unique methods of notation and oral transmission.