古琴介绍中英文 (1)

The Guqin

古琴

Guqin, It is a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument of the zither family with a history of more than 3000 years. The prefix "gu-" (meaning "ancient") was later added for clarification. It can also be called qixianqin (lit. "seven-stringed instrument").

古琴，又称中国七弦琴，为中国最古老的弹拨乐器之一, 有文字可考的历史有四千余年。

Guqin has traditionally been favored by scholars and literati as an instrument of great subtlety and refinement. Guqin has always been viewed as the first place among the four Chinese high culture activities such as Guqin, Chess, calligraphy and painting.

在中国古代，“琴、棋、书、画”历来被视为文人雅士修身养性的必由之径。古琴因其清、和、淡、雅的音乐品格寄寓了文人风凌傲骨、超凡脱俗的处世心态，而在音乐、棋术、书法、绘画中居于首位。

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Symbolism in the Guqin

古琴结构与文化象征

There are a lot of symbols around this instrument.

在古琴中我们可以找到许多中国传统文化的元素。

(第四张ppt)

Guqin’s measurement line is 3 feet 65 inches representing the 365 days in a year. The top part is round representing the sky. The bottom part is flat, representing the earth. The whole body of the Guqin correspond the body of phoenix which is a bird of wonder, also the body of Guqin looks like the human body, with head, neck, shoulder, waist and feet etc.

琴一般长约三尺六寸五（约120—125公分），象征一年三百六十五天（一说象周天365度）。一般宽约六寸（20公分左右）。一般厚约二寸（6公分左右）。琴体下部扁平，上部呈弧形凸起，分别象征天地。整体形状依凤身形而制成，其全身与凤身相应（也可说与人身相应），有头、颈、肩、腰、尾、足。

There are 13 stars/markers representing the 13 month of Chinese lunar year. The stars/markers are filled in the Guqin with shells or gold, silver, jade, pearl make point, called the "Hui” (emblem) to indicate the sound position. The biggest Hui (star/marker) representing the lunar month.

自魏晋时古琴的表面便设置了十三个琴徽. 即琴弦外侧镶嵌了十三个用贝壳或者金、银、玉石、珍珠做成点，称作“徽”，表明泛音位置，提示按弦。十三徽分别象征十二月，而居中最大之徽代表君象征闰月。

There are 7 strings in of Guqin. The first 5 in pentatonic scale representing 5 elements Metal, wood, water, fire and the earth. The 6 string was added by King Wen when his son was died. So the 6 string is sorrowful. The 7 string was added by King Wu when he encourage his soldiers go to the war. So the 7 string is very strong.

古琴最初只有五根弦，内合五行，金、木、水、火、土；外合五音，宫、商、角、徵、羽。后来文王囚于羑里，思念其子伯邑考，加弦一根，是为文弦；武王伐纣，加弦一根，是为武弦。合称文武七弦琴。

The Guqin produce the most diligent and subtle tones. There are 3 category sounds produced by the Guqin. Harmonics is representing the sound from the Heaven. Open Strings is representing the sound from the earth. Stopped string is representing the Human Beings.

古琴有泛音、散音和按音三种音色，泛音法天，散音法地，按音法人，分别象征天、地、人之和合。