Yueqin (月琴)

19th century

Not on view

The resemblance of this round lute to the full moon (yue) gave it its name. The yueqin developed from a much larger long-necked lute that appeared in the Qin and Han dynasties. Its four strings are tuned in pairs, a fifth apart. Like the sanxian, it encloses a vibrating plate. Found in popular ensembles and the Beijing opera and used to accompany song, the yueqin has not been fully embraced by the modern Chinese orchestra. The player presses the strings between the high frets making chord playing difficult but giving increased control over the timbre and intonation. Strings are plucked with fingernails or a pick using up- and down-strokes and tremolo techniques that sustain and give color to a tone.

Artwork Details

Title: Yueqin (月琴)
Period: Qing dynasty (1644-1911)
Date: 19th century
Geography: China
Culture: Chinese
Medium: Rosewood, wu-tong (paulownia) wood, and gut
Dimensions: H. 22 5/8 × D. 1 9/16 × Body Diam. 13 9/16 in. (57.5 × 3.9 × 34.5 cm)
Classification: Chordophone-Lute-plucked-fretted
Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
Object Number: 89.4.53
Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

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9354. Yueqin

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