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 -- Songshi Style
Product Name: Xiru -- Songshi Style
Brand: Juntian Fang
Sires: Siru Sires
Category: Guqin
Material: Chinese Fir Wood
The Song Dynasty Guqin "Song Shi Wen Yi" (松石问意, Pine and Rock Seeking Meaning) was originally a part of the Qing Imperial Palace Collection and was the favorite instrument of Emperor Qianlong.
Its unique form is described as: "Both the neck and the waist feature a concave crescent-moon shape, and where they intersect, a convex crescent-moon shape appears. The entire body is exceptionally long, and both the Dragon Pond and Phoenix Pool are rectangular." (Excerpt from Essentials of Qin Study).
This Guqin was sold at the Poly Auction Beijing Autumn Sale in 2010 for RMB 138.84 million (approx. $20.8 million USD at the time), setting a world auction record for Guqins and a world auction record for any musical instrument at that time.
The Jun Tian Fang replica of "Song Shi Wen Yi" faithfully reproduces the original form. Crafted as an elite replica, the black lacquer faintly reveals an underlying red glow, complemented by a subtle, fine pattern of "cow's hair crackles" (niu mao duan wen).
The instrument inherits the aesthetic ideal of the ancient qín: "Its sound is pure and reverent, its virtue is rich and profound." The sound is described, echoing Emperor Qianlong’s own poetry about the original: "The ancient model holds the posture of the Dragon Gate, coming to emulate the long song and profound tone of the central chamber. The sound is like the Great Antiquity yet does not lose harmony and purity."