GUZHENG

The guzheng (Chinese zither or zheng) is played by more than one million people worldwide today. Its enchanting melodies have echoed through the annals of history.  According to the Custom Compendium (the Fengsu Tongyi (风俗通译) in the period of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the earliest guzheng had only five silk strings and a bamboo body. Later in the Qing dynasty (1644-1911A.D), sixteen steel strings became popular. The number of strings has since been increased from sixteen to eighteen, twenty-one, twenty-five and twenty-six and today the standard guzheng has twenty-one strings.  The guzheng has a rectangular body with a flat bottom and sides, crowned by a convex soundboard. Its strings are strung across the soundboard and divided by movable bridges. The right-hand plucks strings tuned to a pentatonic scale, while the left-hand deftly manipulates the untuned strings, weaving intricate pitch variations and ornamentations. Traditionally, there were five different regional guzheng schools, which can be broadly divided into the Northern and Southern schools. The Northern school incorporates the Henan, Shandong and Shannxi schools. The Southern school incorporates the Zhejiang, Kejia and Minnan schools. Influenced by the local music, culture and dialect in each area, individual schools developed their unique performance style and playing techniques. Beyond its technical and historical dimensions, the guzheng holds broader significance as a cultural emblem. Symbolizing elegance, tradition, and cultural identity, it transcends geographical boundaries, captivating audiences globally with its emotive resonance. Moreover, its educational importance cannot be overstated; dedicated programs in music schools and conservatories continue to ensure the transmission of its rich heritage to future generations.