Since ancient times, qin, chess, calligraphy and painting have been known as the four arts of the literati, carrying the cultural spirit and aesthetic taste of the Chinese nation. Among them, the qin occupies the first place, which shows its important position in the life of ancient literati. However, when we talk about the qin, many people may wonder: what kind of qin does the qin refer to in ancient qin, chess, calligraphy and painting?
1. The Historical Origin of the Guqin To answer this question, we must first trace back to the origin of the qin. The qin, as one of the oldest plucked musical instruments in China, has a long history. According to historical records, as early as the Fuxi era, people began to make pianos. Legend has it that Fu Xi observed the phoenix perched on the plane tree, and was inspired to make the first harp from the plane tree. Therefore, the guqin is also called "Fengming" and "Tongmu".
2. The shape and structure of the guqin The shape and structure of the guqin are very unique. Its overall shape is flat and rectangular, generally with catalpa wood as the base, and the panel is made of paulownia wood, and the two are glued together. The piano is made of silk threads with seven strings, representing the five tones of Gong, Shang, Jiao, Zheng and Yu, as well as the two tones of Gong and Zheng. There are thirteen emblems under the strings, indicating the phoneme. The acoustic effect of the guqin is simple and elegant, with strong traditional Chinese characteristics.
3. The cultural connotation of the guqin The guqin is not only a musical instrument, but also a cultural symbol. In traditional Chinese culture, the qin is endowed with rich connotations. First of all, the qin is seen as a symbol of morality. The ancients believed that the production process of the qin contained the truth of heaven, earth and man, and embodied the cosmology of "the sky is round and the place is round". Secondly, the piano is a symbol of a gentleman. Confucius once said: "A gentleman does not go to the piano for no reason." "I regard the piano as an important tool for self-cultivation. Finally, the piano is a vehicle for emotional expression. Ancient literati often used the piano to express their inner emotions, such as Ruan Ji's "Wine Mania" and Ji Kang's "Guangling San".
Fourth, the relationship between the guqin and other art forms Guqin and poetry, poetry, calligraphy and painting and other art forms blend with each other and complement each other. In literary works, poems and songs with the piano as the theme often appear; In the paintings, there are pictures of Fuqin with landscapes, figures, flowers and birds as the background; Among the calligraphy works, there is qin poetry calligraphy that writes ancient sage poems or famous sayings to convey emotions. Together, these art forms have built a rich system of guqin culture.
Summary: As an indispensable part of the life of ancient literati, the guqin carries the cultural spirit and aesthetic taste of the Chinese nation. Through the historical origin, shape and structure, cultural connotation and relationship between the guqin and other art forms, we can have a deeper understanding of what kind of musical instrument the "qin" refers to in ancient qin, chess, calligraphy and painting, and appreciate the breadth and profundity of Chinese culture.