How to write ruan, an ancient musical instrument

Ruan is a traditional Han Chinese musical instrument, short for Ruan Xian. According to legend, Ruan Xian of the Western Jin Dynasty is good at playing this instrument, hence the name. It has four strings with pillars and resembles a moon zither. Started in the Song Dynasty, the Yuan Dynasty in the folk widely circulated, became a favorite plucked instrument, with a wide range of sound and rich expressive power.

Ruan, short for Ruan Xian, there is a meaning that the long-necked lute, shaped like today's moon lute, different from the curved lute from Guzi. Ruan Xian, one of the seven sages of the Western Jin Dynasty, good at playing the pipa, the Tang Dynasty during the Kaiyuan period from the tomb of Ruan Xian unearthed a copper pipa, named "Ruan Xian", short for "Ruan". The structure is straight handle wooden round **** sound box, four strings twelve columns, vertical hold with the hand to play. Tang Pipa is the military instrument of command, so there is a desire to drink pipa immediately urged the saying.

Modern China's development of the Chinese orchestra, the Ruan Xian class of instruments have Zhongruan, Da Ruan. As a plucked instrument in the alto voice.

After 1949, Ruanxian instruments were improved and developed into the Ruan family of instruments, including the soprano ruan, small ruan, medium ruan, large ruan and bass ruan. Soprano Ruan is used in the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra as a substitute for Liuqin as a soprano plucked instrument, while Zhong Ruan and Da Ruan are commonly used by folk orchestras as medium and low-pitched plucked instruments.

Ruan has a round sound box, twelve tone posts, four strings, and is played with false nails or plectrums. It can be used for solo performance, recital, and accompaniment of songs and dances, or to participate in folk orchestra performances, and it has a rich artistic expression.