china, guqin, moral story, shi wen, shi xiang, traditional culture

The Guqin: Playing Music From the Heart

The guqin is a five- or seven-stringed plucked instrument originating in Ancient China. It was considered essential to know how to play the instrument by ancient men of virtue because it was a symbol of saintliness and noble character. The music of the guqin blends in with the traditional culture and reflects a distinct, simple, ...

Helen London

A 7-stringed guqin.

A Consort’s Wisdom Saved the King and His Kingdom (Part 1)

King Zhuang of the Chu State (reign 613-591 B.C.) was the most accomplished monarch among the five rulers during the Spring and Autumn period in ancient China. Lady Fan Ji was his principal consort. In the first three years of his reign, Zhuang indulged himself in hunting while neglecting his official duties. Fan Ji knew ...

Emma Lu

King Zhuang.

The Guqin: The Instrument of the Sages

The guqin, or qin, is a seven-stringed classical musical instrument that is a relative of the zither family and has a history in China of about 5,000 years. Scholars and sages considered the qin as the singular instrument that captures the essence of traditional Chinese culture. The qin, along with calligraphy, chess, and painting, were ...

Nspirement Staff

A woman playing a guqin.