Duxianqin
Encyclopedia
The duxianqin also yixianqin (一弦琴, lit. "one string zither"), is a Chinese plucked string instrument
with only one string. It is played using harmonic
s, 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 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.
String instrument
A string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
with only one string. It is played using harmonic
Harmonic
A harmonic of a wave is a component frequency of the signal that is an integer multiple of the fundamental frequency, i.e. if the fundamental frequency is f, the harmonics have frequencies 2f, 3f, 4f, . . . etc. The harmonics have the property that they are all periodic at the fundamental...
s, 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 as being an instrument of the Jing (also spelled Gin or Kinh) ethnic group of China, who are ethnic Vietnamese
Vietnamese people
The Vietnamese people are an ethnic group originating from present-day northern Vietnam and southern China. They are the majority ethnic group of Vietnam, comprising 86% of the population as of the 1999 census, and are officially known as Kinh to distinguish them from other ethnic groups in Vietnam...
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
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
rather than wood, which is more common in Vietnam.
External links
- Photograph of a duxianqin
- Duxianqin article (Chinese)
- Duxianqin page (Chinese)
Video
Audio
- Duxianqin audio (click headphones to listen to individual tracks)