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LE-59C
Guqin

Guqin is Chinese's oldest stringed instrument with a history longer than 3000 years. In history Chinese Empire, this seven-stringed zither, Guqin is one of four essence arts skill on educated scholar person. And in recognition of its supreme importance to Chinese culture, UNESCO in 2003 declared the art of the guqin a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity

Historically, the Guqin has been viewed as a symbol of Chinese high culture and the most expressive instrument of the essence of Chinese music. More than 100 harmonics can be played on the guqin, which probably is the largest number of harmonics of any instrument. The guqin has its own notation, which itself has a history at least 1500 years. There are over 150 guqin handbooks in existence, which contain in excess of 3,000 pieces of music as well as essays on the theoretical aspects of the guqin and its music.

There is much symbology surrounding the instrument. For example, it measures 3' 6.5" (Chinese feet and inches), to symbolise the 365 days of the year; the upper surface is round, represents the sky, the bottom is flat ,represents the earth. The five strings of the earliest qins symbolize the five elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth. When Bo Yikao, son of King Wen, the first ruler of the Zhou Dynasty around the 11th century BC, died the Emperor added a the sixth string to mourn his son; the sound of the sixth string is sorrowful. The seventh string was added by the second Zhou ruler, King Wu to inspire his soldiers when his country went to war; the sound of this string is very strong. Finally, the 13 mother-of-pearl inlays along the outer edge represent the 13 months of the lunar year.