The yangqin is a Chinese struck-string instrument, a type of dulcimer that came to China several centuries ago from the Middle East (it is related to the Persian santur and the Hungarian cimbalom). It has a flat trapezoidal body with numerous strings stretched in groups over bridges.
The player performs holding two very light and flexible bamboo beaters with soft heads, with which they deftly strike the strings. The yangqin's sound is ringing, bright, and crystalline, with a long trail of overtones. Thanks to its rich range and ability to play chords, the yangqin holds a central place in the Chinese folk orchestra, where it often serves as a kind of harmonic “foundation.” It is also widely used both as a solo and as an accompanying instrument in traditional and contemporary Chinese music.
