View source for Liuqin

{{Short description|Four or five stringed Chinese mandolin}}
{{Italic title|reason=[[:Category:Chinese words and phrases]]}}
{{No footnotes|date=September 2025}}
{{Infobox Instrument
|name= {{lang|zh-Latn|Liuqin}}
|names=
|image=Liuqin.jpg
|classification=
*[[Plucked string instrument]]
|range=
|related= 
*[[Pipa]]
*[[Ruan (instrument)|Ruan]]
*[[Yueqin]] 
}}
{{Chinese
|c=柳琴
|p=liǔqín
|y=láuhkàhm
|j=lau5 kam4
|c2=柳葉琴
|p2=liǔyèqín
|c3=土琵琶
|p3=tǔpípá
}}

The '''''liuqin''''' ({{lang-zh|c={{linktext|柳琴}}|p=liǔqín}}) is a three, four or five-stringed [[China|Chinese]] [[mandolin]] with a pear-shaped body. The range of its voice is much higher than other Chinese plucked string instrument, and it is used in both orchestral music and solo pieces in [[Music of China|Chinese music]]. This has been the result of a modernization in its usage in recent years, leading to a gradual elevation in status of the {{tlit|zh|liuqin}} from an [[accompaniment]] instrument in folk [[Chinese opera]], to an instrument known for its unique tonal and acoustic qualities. The instrument is held diagonally like the Chinese {{tlit|zh|[[Ruan (instrument)|ruan]]}} and {{tlit|zh|[[yueqin]]}}. Its strings are elevated by a bridge and the soundboard has two prominent soundholes. Finally, the instrument is played with a pick with similar technique to both ruan and yueqin. Therefore, the liuqin is most commonly played and doubled by those with {{tlit|zh|ruan}} and {{tlit|zh|yueqin}} experience.

Historically, the {{tlit|zh|liuqin}} was commonly made of [[willow]] wood ({{zhi|c=柳|p=liǔ}} literally meaning "willow"), while professional players used versions constructed with a higher-quality red [[sandalwood]] or rosewood. In contemporary versions, however, the front board is made of {{tlit|zh|tong}} wood ({{lang|zh|桐木}}) and red sandalwood is used for the back.

==History==
The {{tlit|zh|liuqin}} has gone by various names, firstly the '''{{tlit|zh|liuyeqin}}''' ({{linktext|lang=zh|柳|葉|琴}}), meaning willow leaf-shaped instrument. This was the original term for the {{tlit|zh|liuqin}}, which is an abbreviation of the term {{tlit|zh|liuyeqin}}. The other reference to the {{tlit|zh|liuqin}} is the '''{{tlit|zh|tu pipa}}''' ({{lang|zh|土琵琶}}), literally meaning unrefined {{tlit|zh|[[pipa]]}}, because of the diminutive size and resemblance of the {{tlit|zh|liuqin}} to the {{tlit|zh|pipa}}.

Throughout its history, the {{tlit|zh|liuqin}} came in variations ranging from two (which only had a range of one and a half octaves) to four strings. However, the earliest precursor of the modern four-stringed version of the instrument appeared and experienced popularity during the [[Qing dynasty]]. This version had two strings, and was only used for accompaniment purposes in traditional operas.

The two-stringed {{tlit|zh|liuqin}} remained in use for much of dynastic China from the Qing dynasty until the late 20th century. With the modernization of traditional Chinese music in the 1970s, the four-stringed {{tlit|zh|liuqin}} was developed as an improvement to its musical range, and the body of the instrument was enlarged to allow players to handle the instrument with greater ease.

==Playing technique, tones and range==
[[File:Liuqin.png|left|thumb|Liuqin tuning.]]
[[File:Liǔqín.jpg|thumb|The front and back of a vintage Liuqin]]
The playing technique is similar to that of the [[mandolin]], using a [[plectrum]] and frequently using the [[tremolo]] technique. Its strings are either tuned in fifths, G-D-A-E (as a mandolin or [[violin]]), or else in a mixture of fourths and fifths, as for example G-D-G-D, which is the more common tuning employed by mainstream players of the {{tlit|zh|liuqin}}. This makes playing of the {{tlit|zh|liuqin}} exactly the same as the {{tlit|zh|[[zhongruan]]}}, which is tuned an octave lower, hence players of either the {{tlit|zh|liuqin}} or the {{tlit|zh|ruan}} can often double on both instruments.

Liuqin has a refreshing, jubilant and delicate tonal quality.

The modern {{tlit|zh|liuqin}} has four steel strings. Like the {{tlit|zh|ruan}}, the number of the {{tlit|zh|liuqin}}'s frets was increased from 7 to 29 over the course of the 20th century. These frets are arranged in half-step intervals. As the frets on all Chinese lutes are high, the fingers do not touch the instruments' bodies—distinctively different from western fretted instruments. This allows for a greater control over timbre and intonation than their western counterparts, but makes chordal playing (double, triple, quadruple stopping) more difficult.

==Notable players of the {{tlit|zh|liuqin}}==
*Wang Huiran ({{lang|zh|王惠然}}, 1936-2023),{{efn|Wang Huiran, a Chinese instrumental music composer, was the leader of instrument revolution of {{tlit|zh|liuqin}}. He wrote multiple famous {{tlit|zh|liuqin}} pieces. He is called "Father of the liuqin".}} esteemed "Father of the {{tlit|zh|liuqin}}"
*Wang Hongyi ({{lang|zh|王红艺}}), daughter of Wang Huiran
*NiNi Music
*[[Mei Han]], ''[[guzheng]]'' who doubles on {{tlit|zh|liuqin}}

==''Liuqin'' repertoire==
===Composed/ co-composed/ adapted by Wang Huiran ({{lang|zh|王惠然}})===
*Canal Works of Happiness
*Melody on a Moonlit River
*Sing a Mountain Song of Love
*Spring Comes to River Yi ({{lang|zh|春到沂河}})
*The Lark (''Yun Que'') Romanian Folk Music
*Warrior Suite

===By other composers===
*Sword Dance ({{lang|zh|劍器}})
*Beyond the Horizons ({{lang|zh|天地星空}})
*Courtyard After The Rain ({{lang|zh|雨后庭院}})

==See also==
{{See also|Lute#History and evolution of the lute}}
*[[Traditional Chinese musical instruments]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}Yu Yunfei,"The transition of liuqin's characters", Jiao Xiang-Journal of Xi'an Conservatory of Music, Mar.2005,90-92.

Wang Huiran,"The revolution of liuqin and its current situation", People's Music, May.2006,48-51.

==External links==

===More information===
'''On the instrument'''
*[http://www.yuemi.net/pages1/buolan(mz.boxian1).htm ''Liuqin'' photographs] (first row)
*[http://www.paulnoll.com/China/Music/mus-liuqin.html ''Liuqin'']
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20030824065215/http://www.melodyofchina.com/06instruments/liuqin.html ''Liu Qin''] (a Mp3 recording available here as well)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20091105072345/http://www.hkco.org/eng/learning_2_eng.asp Information on the ''liuqin''] (also includes information on other plucked-string instruments and notational description of instrumental tonal range)

'''On players of the ''liuqin'''''
*[http://www.pccorchestra.net/Document/e/e_article0002_dreamsofgreatstringmusic.asp Concert information on Wang Huiran]
*[http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200203/01/0301170.htm Press release on Wang Hongyi]
*[http://www.cciv.cityu.edu.hk/website/?redirect=/art/2002-2003-s/wang_huiran/index.php Information on Wang Huiran and Wang Hongyi]

===Audio===
*[http://music.yahoo.com.cn/search.html?pid=ysearch&p=%C1%F8%C7%D9&button=%CB%D1%B8%E8%C7%FA&button=%CB%D1%B8%E8%B4%CA&mimetype=all&source=ysearch_music_result_topsearch ''Liuqin'' Mp3s] (click headphones to listen to individual tracks)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060208065533/http://www.geocities.com/risheng99/instruments/liuqin_music.html ''Liuqin'' Mp3s on Yahoo! GeoCities]

{{Traditional Chinese musical instruments}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Chinese musical instruments]]
[[Category:Necked bowl lutes]]