The Origin and History of Guzheng

Guzheng originated in the Warring States Period and was popular in Qin State, so it is also called Qin Zheng. The early guzheng was five-stringed, with a bamboo body in the shape of "Zhu". Guzheng, also known as Han Zheng and Qin Zheng, is an ancient national musical instrument of the Han nationality, which is popular all over China. After thousands of years of development, Hakka Zheng, Chaozhou Zheng, Shandong Zheng and Henan Zheng have been formed. Solos, ensembles, instrumental ensembles and accompaniments, which are often used in song and dance, traditional opera and folk art, are known as "the king of music" and "Oriental piano" because of their wide range, beautiful timbre, rich playing skills and strong expressive force, and are one of the unique and important national musical instruments in China. In the Tang Dynasty, Zhao Lin recorded in Yin Yan Lu: "Zheng is also a stream of Qin. The ancient musical instrument had fifty strings. Since the Yellow Emperor ordered Motome to beat drums, the emperor was very sad and broke it, and it changed from the later musical instrument to twenty-five strings. Qin people beat the drum and harp, and the brothers fought and broke into two pieces. The name of Zheng began. " The Song Dynasty's Collection of Rhymes also proves this view: "Qin customs are thin and evil, and father and son compete for ceremonies, each with its own half." It was called Zheng at that time. " Of course, in addition to the argument that father and son are fighting, there are also arguments that brothers are fighting and sisters are fighting. In the Collection of Music and Taoism, written by the Japanese court musician Okan, it is recorded: "Qin has elegant and upright people. A musical instrument, two women preach, two women argue. Finally, there are two musical instruments, so it is called Zheng. "