Ancient Chinese zither auctioned at record price

Home>>Life

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, November 27, 2003

Ancient Chinese zither auctioned at record price

A Guqin, an ancient Chinese seven-stringed plucked musical instrument, was sold for 8.91 million yuan (1.07 million US dollars) at a local auction in Beijing Wednesday.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

A Guqin, an ancient Chinese seven-stringed plucked musical instrument, was sold for 8.91 million yuan (1.07 million US dollars) at a local auction in Beijing Wednesday.

The 1,250-year-old rare instrument, named "Da Sheng Yi Yin", or "sounds made by great saints", belongs to imperial Tang Dynasty (618-907), according to Zheng Minzhong, a prestigious expert with the Palace Museum.

The musical instrument has been housed by Wang Shixiang, an established connoisseur on Chinese relics, for over 50 years.

The plucked musical instrument is made of wood, maroon colored with a pattern similar to snake skin.

There is another Guqin housed in the Palace Museum with the same name, paint and patterns as this one, according to the auction company.

Before this sale, the most expensive Guqin was sold for 3.47 million yuan (418,072 US dollars) in the spring of 2003.

Questions?Comments? Click here

UNESCO proclaims Chinese Guqin music as Intangible Heritage

Trade move by US government is 'poll ploy': Opinion ( 9 Messages)

Bush's UK visit fails to meet his wishes: Commentary ( 5 Messages)

The cause of China-US trade disputes ( 18 Messages)

Internet changes life in China: News focus ( 17 Messages)

Why China's first textbook on sex not used? ( 7 Messages)

US should be straight on 'one-China' policy ( 34 Messages)