Guqin, the seven-stringed Chinese zither was an instrument of the soul. A symbol of culture and refinement, the instrument appeared often in Chinese brush paintings: a hermit or a scholar playing the guqin next to a waterfall, under a tree or in the mountains. Sometimes it was carried on the back of a young boy–an assistant to the player. Unlike other musical instruments, the guqin was not used as entertainment, but a subtle way of communication between intimate friends.
All that has changed, according to David Wong, who has been going back to China to study with the masters. Guqin has become a fashionable trend and a symbol of culture for the rich. The demand sends the prices soaring not only because the makers see an opportunity to make money, but inexpensive guqins are deemed unworthy by the customers.
300,000 RMB (around $42,000) for the most supreme soul. But who does it speak to, and who is listening?
