The konghou (Chinese: 箜篌; pinyin: kōnghóu) is an ancient Chinese harp. The konghou, also known as kanhou, went extinct sometime in the Ming Dynasty. It has been revived in the 20th century as a double bridge harp. The modern version of the instrument does not resemble the ancient one, but its shape is similar to Western frame harps.
The wo-konghou, or horizontal konghou, was first mentioned in written texts in the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). The su-konghou, or vertical konghou first appeared in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220AD). The phoenix-headed konghou was introduced from India in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420 AD).
The konghou was used to play yayue (court music) in the Kingdom of Chu. During the Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD) the konghou was used in qingshangyue (a music genre). Beginning in the Sui Dynasty (581-618), the konghou was also used in yanyue (banquet music). Konghou playing was most prevalent in the Sui and Tang dynasties. It was generally played in rites and ceremonies and gradually prevailed among the ordinary people.
Part 1. Basic Performance Techniques
1. tuning methods
2. posture for holding the instrument
3. posture for performing
4. hand position for performing
5. directions of the finger movement
6. touch point on the strings
7. points of sound production
8. holding on the fingers
9. octave performance
10. harmony and bar tone performance
Part 2. Special Skills for Performance
1. performance of stopping, pressing, trill and glissando
2. overtone performance
2a. thumb performance
2b. second finger performance
2c. overtones
2d. finger shifting overtone
3. finger shaking performance
3a. plectrum finger-shaking
3b. nail finger-shaking
4. rolling tone performance
4a. rolling tone of the same degree
4b. second finger rolling tone
4c. rolling tone of the four fingers
4d. octave rolling tone
5. performing techniques of other acoustics
5a. picking tone
5b. wiping tone
5c. rubbing tone
5d. digging tone
5e. semi-rest tone
5f. gong tone
5g. tapping strings
5h. sweeping strings
5i. covering strings
5j. gliding fingers
5k. scratching performance – scratching upwards or downwards on the strings
Coming Soon