Yazheng

Traditional Chinese string instrument

ZhazhengClassification|

* Bowed string instrument

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Related instruments

* Ajaeng (Korea)

The yazheng (simplified Chinese: 轧筝; traditional Chinese: 軋箏; pinyin: yàzhēng; also spelled zha zheng or zha cheng) is a Chinese string instrument.[1] It is a traditional zither similar to the guzheng but bowed by scraping with a rosined stick or a horsehair bow, (or plucked sometimes). The musical instrument was popular in the Tang dynasty, but is today little used except in the folk music of some parts of northern China, where it is called yaqin (simplified Chinese: 轧琴; traditional Chinese: 軋琴).[2]

Court musician playing a zhazheng (left)

## Playing

[edit]

The zhazheng is generally played while seated on the floor. It has a tone similar to that of a viola, but raspier. Some contemporary players prefer to use an actual horsehair bow rather than a stick, believing the sound to be smoother. The instrument is used in court, aristocratic, and folk music, as well as in contemporary classical music and film scores.

The Korean ajaeng (hangul: 아쟁; hanja: 牙箏) is derived from the yazheng.[3][4]

In 2002, the People's Republic of China released a postage stamp featuring the instrument.

The zhengni (筝尼) is a similar instrument used by the Zhuang people of the southern Chinese region of Guangxi. After passing to Japan,it became a Assō (nihongo: 軋箏, hiragana: あっそう) and Ryukyu, Japan, it became a teisō (nihongo: 提箏, hiragana: ていそう). In Vietnam, it became a nha tranh in Nhã nhạc.

## See also

[edit]

* Guzheng
* Traditional Chinese musical instruments

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "轧筝复原以及轧筝过去的故事".
2. ^ "咱就是说，有没有可能，筝也是可以拉的?".
3. ^ "ajaeng | musical instrument". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022.
4. ^ Ralls-MacLeod, Karen; Harvey, Graham (2017-09-08). Indigenous Religious Musics. London: Routledge. p. 79\. ISBN 978-1-351-56289-8.

## External links

[edit]

* Yazheng page (Chinese)
* Ya qin page

## Videos

[edit]

* 轧琴 (bowed zither) from China
* 夢裏相思
* 金鳳凰
* 黃福安 - 文枕琴
* \- 箏族魅力系列 (2)

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Traditional Chinese musical instruments

Silk (string)|

| Plucked|

* Duxianqin
* Guqin
* Guzheng
* Konghou
* Liuqin
* Pipa
* Qinqin
* Ruan
* Sanxian
* Se
* Yueqin

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Bowed|

* Banhu
* Daguangxian
* Dahu
* Datong
* Dihu
* Diyingehu
* Erhu
* Erxian
* Gaohu
* Gehu
* Huqin
* Jiaohu
* Jing erhu
* Jinghu
* Laruan
* Leiqin
* Matouqin
* Maguhu
* Sanhu
* Sihu
* Tiqin
* Tihu
* Tuhu
* Yehu
* Yazheng
* Xiqin
* Zhonghu
* Zhuihu
* Zhuiqin

Struck|

* Yangqin
* Zhu

Bamboo
(woodwind)

| Flutes|

* Dizi
* Koudi
* Paixiao
* Xiao

|

Oboes|

* Guan
* Suona

Free-
reed
pipes

* Bawu
* Mangtong

Gourd
(woodwind)

* Hulusheng
* Hulusi
* Sheng
* Yu

Percussion|

| Wood|

* Guban
* Muyu
* Paiban
* Yu
* Zhu

|

Stone|

* Bianqing
* Qing

Metal|

* Bianzhong
* Fangxiang
* Gong
* Luo
* Yunluo

Clay|

* Fou

Hide|

* Alligator drum
* Bangu
* Bolanggu
* Jiegu
* Paigu
* Tanggu
* Zhangu

Others|

* Gudi
* Kouxian
* Lusheng
* Xun

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Zithers

By region|

| East and Southeast Asia|

* Ajaeng
* Chakhe
* Đàn tranh
* Gayageum
* Geomungo
* Guqin
* Guzheng
* Ichigenkin
* Indonesian siter
* Kacapi
* Khim
* Koto
* Se
* Yangqin
* Yanggeum
* Yazheng

|

West and South Asia|

* Kanun
* Nuzhe
* Indian santoor
* Persian santur
* Iraqi santur
* Swarmandal

Europe|

* Autoharp
* Bowed psaltery
* Cimbalom
* Epinette des Vosges
* Gusli
* Hammered dulcimer
* Hummel
* Kantele
* Kannel
* Kanklės
* Kokles
* Kusle
* Krez
* Langeleik
* Langspil
* Psaltery
* Psalterium
* Scheitholt
* Streichmelodion
* Tambourine de Bearn
* Tsymbaly
* Violinzither

Americas|

* Appalachian dulcimer
* Mexican salterio
* Tremoloa

Manufacturers|

* Musical Instrument Factory of Riga
* Oscar Schmidt
* Tōkai

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