The qin was the music instrument most depicted by Chinese literati. It was also commonly depicted in popular art.

The scene at right was painted for a friend's birthday. It is quite typical except that the qin is resting on a pile of books, which may be effective, but is unusual.

Here are some more examples.

1. Methods of playing the qin
   The qin can be played either on the lap or at a table
2. Qin styles
   Annotated illustrations of 38 famous qin shapes
3. Hand Gesture Illustrations
   33 annotated illustrations of finger techniques
4. Lienü Zhuan and Liexian Quanzhuan
   Illustrated editions of both include depictions of people with qin connections
5. Emperor Huizong playing the qin
   Perhaps the earliest painting showing the qin played at a table
6. Feng Qiu Huang (A Male Phoenix Seeks his Mate);
   a famous Chinese love story involving seduction by qin.
7. Autumn Geese over the Grave of the Immaciated Immortal
8. Boya plays for a friend
9. Playing a stringless qin
10. Qin and ruan
11. Korean examples

 
Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1 (Return)

Return to the Guqin ToC.