★錦瑟無端五十絃，一弦一柱思華年。莊生曉夢迷蝴蝶，望帝春心托杜鵑…

箏是中國傳統彈撥樂器，源於秦而盛於唐。近幾十年來，發展變化之大，流行之廣，不遜於唐時「奔車看牡丹，走馬聽秦箏」的盛況。

由於彈奏聲似”錚錚”的音響而得名，因春秋戰國時期於秦國一帶流行，故又稱秦箏。 

箏的製作是以梧桐木挖鑿成長方形音箱，面板呈弧形，不同朝代絃數不同，漢晉以前設十二條絃，唐朝以後增至十三條絃，明清時則增至十五、十六條絃。台灣專業國樂團所使用的箏，則為廿一、廿六絃箏為主。 

箏的音色華麗優美，明亮抒情，善於表現行雲流水的意境，常用於獨奏、合奏、重奏器樂和聲樂伴奏中。

不同彈奏技巧亦可增加彈奏時的音色表情，例如增加樂曲起伏感的「搖指」、帶有悲哀音調的「游搖」、表現激烈情感的「大顫音」、表現出極度悲痛情緒的「小顫音」等。 

隨著箏樂進化，循科學文明及音樂文化之需求而改進，琴絃改由鋼絲尼龍絃，以擴大音域，增加音量，便於轉調，豐富了箏的表現力，使古箏樂器更臻完美。

As a traditional plucked Chinese musical instrument, Zheng originated in Qin and became especially popular during Tang Dynasty.

With remarkable development and changes as well as surprisingly wide popularity in the past decades, Zheng has entered an era on par with its prime time in Tang Dynasty, as the saying goes – “Take a carriage to appreciate peony blossoms, and take a ride to enjoy Qin Zheng melodies.”

The name “Zheng” was given because it creates a clanking sound of “Zheng”; since it was popular in areas around Qin State from Spring and Autumn Period to Warring States Period, it’s also known as “Qin Zheng”.

As per manufacturing, Zheng has a body of rectangular sound tube carved from Chinese wu-tong wood, and an arc-shape panel.

The number of strings varied in different dynasties. Zheng had 12 strings during the time earlier than Han Dynasty and Jin Dynasty.

After Tang Dynasty, the number of strings was increased to 13, then 15 and 16 strings in Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty.

Most Zhengs used by National Chinese Orchestra, Taiwan, have 21 or 26 strings.

The timbre of Zheng is magnificent and elegant, bright, clear and moving.

It features the capacity to evoke the sense of flowing clouds and running streams.

Zheng is often used in solo, ensemble, instrument reprise and opera obbligato.

Different playing actions add variable timbre expressions into the tune, such as “swaying-press with fingers” that increases rises and falls of a tune, “roaming sways” that delivers sad tones, “major tremolo” that expresses strong feelings, “minor tremolo” that expresses extreme grief, etc.

As Zheng evolves, it has been improved in accordance with the need of scientific civilization and the culture of music.

The strings are now made with steel strings flatwound with nylon to widen its musical range and increase the volume, so that tone color switching is now easier and its expression capacity is now enriched, hence a further perfected musical instrument of Guzheng.

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