Zither (Black lacquer Qin)

Title

Year/Period

Qing dynasty, Kangxi period, 17th-18th centuries

Region

Jiangnan, China

Object Type

zithers

Material

wood (plant material), lacquer (material)

Technique

woodworking, carving (processes), lacquering

Dimension

Object size: H9.0 x W126.5 x D19.5 cm

Accession No.

1999-02686

Collection of

Asian Civilisations Museum

This zither is craved out of a block of wood, finished in black lacquer. There are seven strings attached to pegs on the underside of the zither. There are white studs along the front to indicate the pitch. The top board of this zither is made of fir, and its surface painted with black lacquer. The baseboard is made of Chinese catalpa wood. Two opening s of different sizes are built into the base as amplifiers.The zither is a string instrument played by strumming and plucking. It has a smooth surface with no frets. Zithers of the Zhou dynasty (6th century BCE) already had seven strings, as modern zithers do. Zithers of the Han (202BCE-220CE) and Wei (220-265) periods were usually played to accompany singers.