In a serene Beijing courtyard, graced with a lotus pond, intricate rockeries, and blooming apricot trees, a figure with a distinguished gray beard immerses himself in the melodious tunes of the guqin. This seven-stringed zither, a classic emblem of Chinese heritage, finds a dedicated enthusiast in Wang Peng, a man who has devoted several decades to crafting, studying, and playing this traditional instrument.
Wang’s expertise in the art of guqin is widely recognized. The guqin that featured prominently in the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics was a testament to his fine craftsmanship. The 57-year-old virtuoso has also successfully restored over a hundred ancient guqins, with a few dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and the Song Dynasty (960-1279).
His passion for the guqin, and the cultured literati lifestyle that it embodies, blossomed during his time at the Shenyang Conservatory of Music in the 1980s. According to Wang, playing the guqin transcends the ordinary and elevates one into a realm of subtlety, refinement, and tranquility. This venerable instrument embodies virtues of moderation and impartiality while fostering harmony and serenity.
“The guqin guides me in addressing challenges, appreciating joys, accepting failures and successes with equanimity and patience, and pursuing a composed and serene existence,” Wang explains.
The appeal of the guqin and the traditional culture it represents has started to resonate with an increasing number of Chinese youth. Ma, a lawyer from the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, ventured into the art of guqin five years ago to mitigate work pressures and seek solace in the instrument’s graceful tunes. “Guqin helps me find inner peace,” Ma affirms.
Another member of the studio, He Chao, encountered the guqin during his sophomore year in college in 2011 while majoring in horticulture. His connection with the instrument deepened over time, leading him to join Wang’s studio as an assistant instructor a year after his graduation. The 32-year-old instructor is now part of the passionate collective endeavoring to perpetuate the legacy of the guqin and breathe new life into this ancient Chinese art form.
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