This zheng was purchased around 1985 in a less developed area of Taiwan before being brought to Canada. It spent most of its years in storage and is visually in excellent condition. 

It has 16 steel strings, two of them being bass strings wound in copper. Its fixed bridges are both straight. Instead of a hinged compartment holding tuning pins, this instrument's head is just part of the frame. The tuning pins are actually posts on the tail of the instrument. A wooden handle is needed to turn them; that is what is attached to the case's lid. Taken together with the instrument's straight backboard, it appears this instrument was built in an older style, but there is much yet to learn. Have you seen anything like this? Let me know!

Photographed by GZA in 2017. Used with permission of owner.

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The original source and age of this zheng is unknown as its current owner purchased it at anonymous auction, but a flyer in its tuning pin compartment advertised a concert in Taipei in 1988.

This instrument has two straight fixed bridges and 16 strings of steel with 2 of the bass strings wound with copper. The backboard is curved but appears to be made of very thin plywood. The tuning pins are inside a hinged compartment. The moveable bridges have holes in their center and are threaded together on a string.

Photographed by GZA in 2017. Used with permission of owner.

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