The Siru Series of Guqin is a collection of high-quality guqins introduced by Master Wang Peng at Juntian Fang, each named after the concepts "Xiru, Chunru, Jiaoru, and Yiru." These names are derived from the musical philosophy found in the Analects of Confucius and represent different musical aesthetic concepts. To commemorate this, he invited the calligrapher Fei Weng to inscribe these names on the guqin models. Each name represents a unique aspect of music, embodying the depth and elegance of traditional Chinese musical aesthetics.
The names of the Siru Series not only reflect the different characteristics of the guqin in terms of timbre and expressiveness but also demonstrate Master Wang Peng’s profound understanding of guqin making and his pursuit of traditional musical aesthetics. These guqins cater to different styles and levels of guqin enthusiasts, providing diverse choices for performers.
Features of the Siru Guqin:
- Materials and Craftsmanship: The Siru Guqin is crafted using high-quality aged cedar wood for the soundboard and catalpa wood for the backboard. The wood has undergone years of natural drying to ensure the instrument's resonance and tone are at their best. The connection between the soundboard and backboard is meticulously crafted to guarantee the stability of the instrument and the purity of its sound quality.
- Sound Quality: The Siru Guqin has an elegant and rich tone, with a deep and powerful bass, mellow and bright mid-tones, and clear and bright high tones. The sound quality is well-layered, expressive, and suitable for playing various guqin pieces.
- Design: In terms of appearance, the Siru Guqin retains the classic shape of traditional guqins while incorporating modern aesthetics of simplicity and elegance. The surface often features intricate carvings or lacquer paintings, showcasing the cultural connotations and aesthetic value of the guqin art.
- Feel: The string spacing and feel of the Siru Guqin are carefully designed to ensure moderate tension, providing a comfortable touch for the player. This facilitates technique performance and sound control during playing.
- Suitability: The Siru Guqin is suitable for guqin enthusiasts of different levels, including professional performers and hobbyists. It can be used as a performance instrument as well as a collectible-grade piece.
Xiru -- Fengshi (Phoenix) Style
Product Name: Xiru -- Fengshi (Phoenix) Style
Brand: Juntian Fang
Sires: Siru Sires
Category: Guqin
Material: Chinese Fir Wood
Style: The annotations on historical Qín styles in the Wuzhizhai Qín Pǔ (Wuzhizhai Guqin Manual) state: "Yang Ying of the Wei Dynasty created the Feng Shi (Phoenix Posture) style, where a flying-point shape, two cùn [approximately 2 inches] wide, is formed between the 'shoulders' and 'waist.' It produces a thunder-like sound."
The characteristic of this style is that it immediately begins to curve from the Yuè Shān [the upper bridge or 'Mountain'], and the upper and lower sides of the body each feature two bends. When crafting the Feng Shi style, mastering the shape is extremely important; it must be handsome, bright, and elegant, yet possess a strong, robust, and towering vigor, embodying the posture of a soaring phoenix.
The tone of this style is clear and powerful, at times like the harmonious and melodious calls of the mythical Luán and Phoenix. Styles such as the Xuanhe Style and the Pili (Thunderbolt) Style all share a common origin with the Feng Shi style.