Duxianqin

The duxianqin (独弦琴, pinyin: dúxiánqín; lit. "lone string zither", pronounced [tǔ ɕi̯ɛ̌n tɕʰǐn]), also yixianqin (一弦琴, lit. "one string zither"), is a Chinese plucked string instrument with only one string. It is played using harmonics, with the string's tension varied by the use of a flexible rod manipulated with the left hand.

The duxianqin is nearly identical to the Vietnamese đàn bầu, which it is likely derived from. Chinese sources describe đàn độc huyền^[1] as being an instrument of the Jing (also spelled Gin or Kinh) ethnic group of China, who are ethnic Vietnamese living in China. It is still sometimes played by these ethnic groups. Sometimes the body of the instrument is made from a large tube of bamboo rather than wood, which is more common in Vietnam.

External links

• Photograph of a duxianqin
• Duxianqin article (Chinese)
• Duxianqin page (Chinese)

Video

• Duxianqin video
• Duxianqin video
• Duxianqin video

Audio

• Duxianqin audio (click headphones to listen to individual tracks)

See also

• Đàn bầu
• Diddley bow
• Traditional Chinese musical instruments

References

1. ^ the Vietnamese đàn độc huyền is also called duxianqin in China; when distinguishing; Chinese call each "duxianqin of modern China" (中國獨弦琴) and "duxianqin of Jingzu" (京族獨弦琴), while the traditional one in ancient China is still called simply "duxianqin" (獨弦琴). The Vietnamese name "độc huyền" has the same origin with Chinese name "duxian"