- Qinqin
The qinqin (; pinyin: qínqín) is a plucked Chinese
lute originally with a wooden body, a slender fretted neck, and three strings. [http://www.chinamedley.com/images/yueqi/qinqin.gifphoto 1] [http://thedining.jp/blog/cs/dinner_course/photo/%90%60%8B%D511k.jpgphoto 2] Its body can be either round, [http://www.chinamusic.gr.jp/sinkin2.jpgphoto] hexagonal (with rounded sides), or octagonal. [http://www.hebwwj.gov.cn/datalib/2003/ChinaCultural/DL/DL-20031226133928/ChinaCultural/Pic/0/imagePreview/__end_key__ photo] Often only two strings were used, as in certain regional silk-and-bamboo ensembles. [http://club.tngs.tn.edu.tw/cmusic/images/history/chunpino.gifphoto]In recent years the instrument has been redesigned to have a skin resonator and often up to four strings.
The "qinqin" is particularly popular in southern China: in
Guangdong ,Hong Kong andMacau . A similar instrument, the two-stringed "đàn sến ", has been adapted from the "qinqin" for use in the traditional music of southern Vietnam. [http://www.vietnam-sketch.com/special/monthly/2004/11/003.html photo]External links
* [http://www.yuemi.net/pages1/buolan(mz.boxian1).htm Qinqin photographs] (third and fourth rows)
* [http://www.chinamedley.com/langyuan/qinqin/ Qinqin page] (Chinese)
* [http://www.cyueqi.com/collect_info.php?news_id=61 Qinqin page] (Chinese)ee also
*
Traditional Chinese musical instruments
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