Tianqin

Tianqin

　　is a plucked stringed instrument of the Pian people, a subgroup of the Zhuang ethnic group. In the Pian language, it is called Dingding. The name comes from the onomatopoeic sound the instrument produces. With a long history and a unique shape, it has a mellow and bright tone, and is often used for solo performances or to accompany songs and dances. It is beloved by the Pian people and is popular in areas such as Fangchenggang Zhuang Autonomous County, Ningming, and Longzhou in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It has a history of over a thousand years.

　　　It has been passed down among the Pian people, a subgroup of the Zhuang ethnic group. Originally, it was used by tianpo (witches) when performing rituals to ward off disasters and cure illnesses. Later, this shamanistic practice of playing music and dancing evolved into a popular recreational activity, but it is still referred to as "singing Tian," "playing Tian," or "dancing Tian." The instrument used is called the Tianqin. Traditional Tianqins are about 120 cm long. The body is made of wood, carved with dragon patterns. The head is carved into the shape of a phoenix, a military seal, the sun, or the moon, with wooden tuning pegs on either side. The resonator is made from a gourd or a hemp bamboo tube. It is hemispherical, 10 cm thick, with the front covered by a thin layer of hemp bamboo skin or paulownia board, 11 cm in diameter, and the back end is carved with patterns to serve as a sound window. The bridge is made of bamboo, and the strings are made of silk. All parts of the instrument can be disassembled and assembled, making it easy to carry. Modern Tianqins have a 90 cm-long semi-cylindrical body without decoration. The head is flat, the resonator is made of gastrodia bamboo or iron, circular, 10 cm in diameter, covered with snake or python skin, and strung with silk or nylon strings. It is tuned to c1, g or d1, g. The inner string is tuned to the higher pitch, and the outer string to the lower pitch. Its range is from g to g3.

　　The Legend of the Tianqin

　　　　Legend has it that long ago, in a Pian village at the southern foot of the Shiwandashan Mountains, there was a pair of very close young friends — a man named Nongduan and a woman named Nongya. They often went up the mountain together to cut firewood. One day, near the mouth of a cave, they heard a pleasant “ding-dong” sound coming from within. Following the sound, they entered the cave and saw a pool of water, with droplets falling from the rock walls into the pool. As they listened to the enchanting music, they felt refreshed, clear-headed, and joyful. They wanted to bring this magical sound back to their village to share with their fellow villagers. Nongya suggested, “Why don’t we make something that can produce this kind of sound?” So, the two found a gourd shell and a wooden pole in the mountains, inserted the pole into the gourd, and stretched fine vines across it. To their delight, it produced the “Dingding” sound, much like the tinkling of mountain spring water. When the villagers heard it, they all applauded, and an elder even named it “Dingding” after the sound it made. The villagers began making their own, and soon the Dingding became popular throughout the village. When the sound of the instrument reached the heavens, the Jade Emperor sent angels to summon Nongduan and Nongya. Later, they became celestial singers in heaven, playing music and singing for the Jade Emperor every day, rarely descending to earth. To ease the villagers’ longing, every year from the first to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, when the Heavenly Gate was opened, they would return to the mortal world to celebrate and dance with their fellow villagers. Whenever the Pian people had wishes or needed help, they would burn incense and invite them to descend and perform. This activity eventually became a fixed tradition, known as “dancing Tian.” To this day, during traditional Zhuang festivals, the Pian people hold communal “dancing Tian” performances. The Dingding is the only instrument used in these events, which is why it is called the Tianqin.