Xiao Xiang Yeyu (Night Rain over the Xiao and Xiang Rivers), acquired by Mr. Shum Hing-Sun in 1995, was loaned to me for the recording of Music Beyond Sound. The qin had been repaired shortly before the recording. According to Mr. Shum, the shape and seeming age of the wood imply Song dynasty construction, although it is quite round on top, typical of the Tang dynasty (618-907). Although typical Song dynasty instruments tend to be flatter, there were also many made in Tang style. The Ming dynasty repair assumption is due to the lacquer being mixed with powdered cement, rather than powdered deer horn -- this latter typical of the Ming dynasty.

The instrument was formerly in the collection of Ma Shouluo , who drew the sketches of the instrument shown at right. He also wrote the following on a piece of paper which he glued to the back of the qin:¹

 
Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1. I cannot find the original Chinese for the inscription.
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