Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BCE)
traditional music
UNESCO Intangible Heritage
North China
active
The guqin, a seven-stringed zither, has been played by Chinese scholars and literati for over 3,000 years. More than a musical instrument, the guqin is a vehicle for philosophical expression, associated with Confucian ideals of self-cultivation and harmony. Its music is characterized by subtlety, silence between notes, and deep connection to nature. Inscribed by UNESCO in 2008.
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