Sound of Guzheng About
What is a Guzheng?
The Guzheng (古筝) is a Chinese plucked zither with a history stretching back more than 2,500 years. Here's the quick tour — anatomy, history, and sound.
Anatomy of the instrument
21 Strings
Modern Guzheng have 21 strings, tuned to a pentatonic scale.
Movable Bridges
Each string rests on a bridge you can slide to retune.
Wooden Soundboard
A curved paulownia top gives the warm, resonant tone.
Finger Picks
Players wear picks (often on the right hand) to pluck strings.
A short history
- 5th c. BCE Early zithers appear during the Warring States period.
- Tang Dynasty The zheng flourishes in court and folk music.
- 20th c. The 21-string Guzheng becomes the modern standard.
- Today A global instrument heard in pop, film, and viral covers.
Now hear it
Reading about it only gets you so far. Watch a performance.