What does Xiao Mu of Guqin mean?

Guqin is one of the traditional Chinese musical instruments with a long history and profound cultural background. Xiao Mu plays a very important role in the production of guqin. Xiao Mu refers to the small wooden block used by the piano body for decoration, tuning and improving the sound quality of the piano. Different materials, sizes and placement positions of Xiao Mu will have an impact on the timbre of guqin.

The ancients compared the guqin to a "person", called the sound of the piano its "sound" and called the small wood its "bone". There are many kinds of small wood, such as sycamore, zhemu, rosewood, boxwood and so on. Each kind of wood has its own unique timbre and texture. Making guqin requires fine craftsmanship and spiritual input, and each small piece of wood must be carefully carved and polished to ensure the high quality of the piano body.

Guqin is a cultural wealth that has been passed down for thousands of years, and small wood is an indispensable and important element in guqin production. Nowadays, due to the enhanced awareness of environmental protection and sustainable development, guqin production has also begun to pursue sustainability and environmental protection. Some guqin makers even collect small pieces of wood drifting by the river to make the piano body, so that these seemingly useless small pieces of wood can bloom beautiful colors and outlines in the details. This is not only the protection of natural resources, but also the promotion of traditional culture.