DEVELOPMENT OF THE TRADITIONAL CHINESE HARP (KONGHOU) AND ITS MUSIC: A SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55197/qjssh.v7i4.1271Keywords:
Konghou, Chinese harp, Chinese traditional musical instrument, Chinese plucked string instrument, progressing trendAbstract
Konghou, a traditional Chinese musical instrument similar to the Western harp, was introduced to China via the Silk Road during the Qin and Han dynasties and flourished during the Sui and Tang dynasties. Over time, however, the Konghou gradually faded into obscurity during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Thanks to the dedication of instrument artisans, the Konghou was revived after being lost for over three hundred years. With this revival, the Konghou music has experienced significant development, and in recent years, exceptional performances have emerged, capturing the public's attention. This article examines the development of Konghou music from a sociological perspective, exploring its cultural and societal role. It also highlights the instrument's resurgence and the growth of Konghou music in contemporary performances. The goal of this research study is to explore the future trends of the Konghou, promote its cultural significance, and bring Chinese music culture to the global stage.
References
[1] Cosmopolitan (2022): 她们才是中国优雅：国乐袅袅，奏响千年 [They are the elegance of China: Chinese traditional music has been played for thousands of years]. – Tencent News 19p.
[2] Cui, J. (2010): 箜篌的新生 [The rebirth of Konghou]. – 人民音乐 [People’s Music] 3p.
[3] Fan, J. (2021): 试析箜篌独奏作品《湘妃竹》 [An analysis of the Konghou solo work “Xiang Fei Bamboo”]. – 世纪之星 [Century Star] 2p.
[4] Feng, Z. (2024): 解读现代箜篌演奏技法 以《湘妃竹》为例 [An interpretation of modern Konghou performance techniques: A case study of Xiang Fei Bamboo]. – 艺术大观 [Art Panorama] 3p.
[5] He, Z. (2014): Seeking the way and refining yourself, the Konghou creates new sounds—Written on the “Hongyun Yu Huai” Konghou Concert and the “Comprehensive Seminar on New Works, New Ideas and New Achievements”. – 乐府新声 [The New Voice of Yue-Fu] 3p.
[6] He, Z. (2021): On “Konghou” of the Silk Road: Thoughts on the name, time, region, cultural carrier and reasons of Konghou on the Silk Road. – 乐府新声 [The New Voice of Yue-Fu] 9p.
[7] Li, Z. (2013): 浴火凤凰 再展风姿 首届中国箜篌艺术节掠影 [Phoenix rising from the ashes, showing its grace again: A glimpse of the First China Konghou Art Festival]. – 演艺科技 [Entertainment Technology] 2p.
[8] Liu, S. (2022): Bamboo weaving “Konghou Picture”. – Frontiers in Art Research 4(4): 31-34.
[9] Liu, X. (2019): 论双排弦全转调箜篌的创新与发展变化 [Innovation and evolution of the modern double-row Konghou]. – Shenyang Conservatory of Music 60p.
[10] Ma, S. (2014): “空谷幽兰”箜篌专场奏响国家大剧院 [“Lonely Orchid in the Valley” Konghou special performance performed at the National Centre for the Performing Arts]. – 中国文化报 [China Culture News] 1p.
[11] Su, Y., Li, B., Liu, Q. (2024): 箜篌教育发展现状综述 [A review of the current status of Konghou education development]. – 琴童 3p.
[12] Tong, L. (2021): 中国高校艺术类专业箜篌方向的发展现状研究 [Research on the current development status of the Konghou specialty in Chinese arts colleges and universities]. – Xinjiang Normal University 60p.
[13] Wang, J. (2014): 丹凤回眸三十载 弘韵放歌迎春来 “弘韵抒怀”箜篌专场音乐会掠影 [Danfeng looks back at the past 30 years, Hongyun sings to welcome the coming of spring—A glimpse of the “Hongyun Expressing Feelings” Konghou Concert]. – 音乐生活 [Music Life] 1p.
[14] Wang, X. (2016): 中国现代箜篌对古代箜篌的传承、借鉴与创新 [The inheritance, reference and innovation of modern Chinese Konghou from ancient Konghou]. – 中央音乐学院 [Central Conservatory of Music] 65p.
[15] Wang, Y. (2020): 基于从箜篌艺术的文化特色分析其在我国的普及推广 [Analysis of the popularization and promotion of Konghou art in China based on its cultural characteristics]. – 黄河之声 [Song of the Yellow River] 1p.
[16] Wang, Y., Siriwongsuwan, R. (2024): A study of the aesthetic analysis of modern double-row stringed Konghou playing technique. – วารสารพุทธศาสตร์ มจร.อุบลราชธานี 6(1): 1735-1740.
[17] Wei, H. (2025): 浅析箜篌艺术的文化内涵与推广传承 [An analysis of the cultural connotation, promotion and inheritance of Konghou art]. – 中原文化与旅游 [Central Plains Culture and Tourism] 3p.
[18] Ye, Z. (2025): Analysis of The Vivid Reflection: A composition for modern Konghou. – Proceedings of the 2025 4th International Conference on Science Education and Art Appreciation (SEAA 2025), Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, Atlantis Press 9p.
[19] Zhang, W. (2019): A Phoenix in The Land of The Dragon: The rebirth of the Konghou in the Neo-Communist Age. – Thesis, University of Rochester, Eastman School of Music 98p.
[20] Zhu, Y. (2019): 传承箜篌艺术，奏响民族之音 [Inheriting the art of Konghou: Let the voice of the nation resound]. – 教育研究与评论 [Education Research and Reviews] 3p.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 JIALIN FAN, MOHD IBRANI SHAHRIMIN ADAM ASSIM, KAR ABDULLAH
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
