The guqin is a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument. It has been played since ancient times, and has traditionally been favoured by scholars and literati as an instrument of great subtlety and refinement, as highlighted by the quote "a gentleman does not part with his qin or se without good reason," as well as being associated with the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius. It is sometimes referred to by the Chinese as "the father of Chinese music" or "the instrument of the sages". The guqin is not to be confused with the guzheng, another Chinese long stringed instrument also without frets, but with moveable bridges under each string.
Guqin
A girl playing a guqin, Eastern Han dynasty, collection of the Musée des Arts Asiatiques de Toulon, France
The painting "Ting Qin Tu" (Listening to the Qin), by the Song emperor Huizong (1082–1135)
〈勾〉 Gou
The se or guse is an ancient plucked zither of Chinese origin. It varied in size and construction, but generally had 25–50 strings with moveable bridges and a range of up to five octaves. It was one of the most important stringed instruments in China, along with the guqin. The se gradually faded out of use, having evolved into the similar zheng. Modern versions of the se often resemble the zheng, and attempts have been made to revive the instrument.
A modern se on display at the Tainan Confucian Temple.
An ancient se board with four string posts, dated to the 5th–3rd centuries BC. Made of wood painted in black and red lacquer, and carved with decorative patterns. The strings no longer exist.