The guqin is an ancient Chinese seven-stringed fretless zither whose history spans more than three thousand years. In traditional Chinese culture it is the most revered instrument, inseparable from the image of the cultivated gentleman — scholar, poet, philosopher — alongside calligraphy, painting, and the game of go.
The guqin's sound is extraordinarily quiet, intimate, and full of subtle shades: the player uses dozens of sliding and vibrato techniques, creating an almost meditative music for personal self-immersion rather than for a large audience. Each piece is often tied to a philosophical or poetic idea. In 2003 the guqin and its music were proclaimed a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity (inscribed on the Representative List in 2008) as a unique treasure of world culture, embodying the very essence of ancient Chinese aesthetics and spirituality.
