The guqin, also known as the seven-stringed zither, is one of China’s oldest musical instruments and has been closely associated with Chinese intellectual and cultural life for more than 3,000 years. Traditionally regarded as an instrument of scholars, it occupies a unique place in the country’s musical heritage.

Featuring a long wooden soundbox, the guqin is capable of producing subtle and refined tones across a range of four octaves. Its distinctive sound is created through a combination of open strings, harmonics and stopped-string techniques, allowing performers to achieve remarkable depth and nuance.

For centuries, guqin playing was cultivated as an elite art form, practised in intimate settings rather than public performances. It was also one of the four arts that Chinese scholars were expected to master, alongside calligraphy, painting and an ancient form of chess. According to tradition, even Confucius was known to play the guqin while teaching his students.

Today, the guqin remains a powerful symbol of traditional Chinese culture, preserving a musical tradition that has shaped generations of scholars, musicians and artists.