The Guqin a Chinese Musical Instrument that Helped Defeat an Army

The guqin, or seven-stringed zither, is China’s oldest stringed instrument, and as legend has it,

its sweet sounds once helped defeat an army. Now this ancient instrument experiences a

modern-day renaissance. This holiday season, NTDTVs Holiday Wonders (live at the Beacon

Theater on Broadway, NYC, Dec. 19-24, 2006) brings a unique opportunity to experience the

magic of traditional Chinese culture, using traditional and ancient instruments. The

magnificence of the backdrops, the abundant imagination, the marvelous music, the splendor of

the costumes, and the actors’ great skill–altogether make for outstanding entertainment

reflecting China’s 5,000 years of civilization and traditional culture–a culture full of myths and

legends.

The first guqins were made about 3,000 years ago. They were very simple, with just one or two

strings. As aesthetic concepts flowered and playing skills improved, the instrument changed. By

the 3rd century the guqin had seven strings, and was very similar to the instrument played today.

Historically, the guqin has been viewed as a symbol of high culture, as well as the instrument

most able to express the essence of Chinese music. There is consequently a great deal of

symbolism surrounding the guqin.

In ancient China, the guqin was an instrument played mainly by those of noble birth. Among the

3,000 or so guqin tunes that have been handed down, the majority are works by the then ruling

class, expressing their aspirations.

In Chinese history, there is a famous story called the Empty City Trick (Kong Cheng Ji) in which

the guqin played the key role in defeating an army of thousands. The story of Kong Cheng Ji can

be found in the famous 15th century novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

During the Three Kingdoms period (220-280 AD), the Kingdom of Shu underwent a series of

defeats by the Kingdom of Wei. On one occasion the Wei general, Sima Yi, advanced with his

armies to the gate of a Shu city, unaware that there were no Shu soldiers within the city to

protect it.

On seeing the Wei army advance, rather than capitulating, the Shu military advisor Zhuge Liang

went to the gate tower and played a beautiful melody on his guqin.

As he listened, Sima Yi, the general of the invading army, found himself in a quandary. He tried

to tell from the nuance of the music whether the city was truly empty, or if Shu soldiers hid

within it. Judging by the tranquil tones, he decided this was a trick of Zhuge Liang’s to tempt his

army into an ambush, and so he ordered a retreat.

The ruse helped the Kingdom of Shu to avoid another defeat and ultimate destruction.

You may wonder what melody Zhuge Liang played. Nobody knows. This will probably forever

remain a secret shrouded in the mists of history.