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Seven-stringed Zither, Zuo Zongtang’s Family Heirloom
The top surface of the qin is made of paulownia wood and the bottom surface is made of ovate catalpa wood. The cap corner (guanjue), bridge (yueshan) and dew-receptor (chenglu) are all made of Chinese boxwood. This instrument has no goose feet. Its tuning pegs are made of Chinese boxwood and its inlays (which are like raised round buttons) are made of mother-of-pearl. It has no cracks (duanwen) and is painted with chestnut shell colour. The rectangular sound retainers are raised slightly. The forehead of the qin has an oval lace design. The cap corners (guanjue) are decorated with dragon motifs. This instrument has no inscriptions or seals.
- Date:
Qing dynasty - Maker:
- Collection:
Hunan Museum - Inventory number:
Loading... - Place of production:
China - Hornbostel-Sachs classification:314.122 True board zithers with resonator box (box zither)
- Culture:
- Period:
- Materials:Paulownia wood, ovate catalpa wood
- Specific materials/techniques:
- Decorative elements:
- Inscriptions:An inscription about the maker and material of the instrument is engraved near the large sound hole at the back of the qin.
- Hornbostel-Sachs category:314.122 True board zithers with resonator box (box zither)
- Repository:Hunan Museum
- Measurements:Total length: 127cm, string length: 115.6cm, width of the forehead: 18.5cm, width of the shoulders: 20cm, width of the tail: 16cm, the large sound hole is 19.4cm long and 2.3cm wide, the small sound hole is 14cm long and 2.3cm wide.