Further Reading

(Last updated October 2017)

Jump to: Background | Origin and History | Musical Styles | Literary Context | Development of the Zheng | Artwork

Do you look at my list of sources and say "Pssh, that's it?" Do you finish a Mandarin work and hunger for more? Are you bothered by the possible nuances my English-language sources may have lost in translation? Then look no further my friend, for I have (drum roll please) Further Reading!

Most of this comes courtesy of Chen 1991 who opens his thesis with a wonderful index of the many works that had been written about the guzheng up until that point. Listed with author's family name first, they are:

Background, historical development, and ancient performing contexts

Yang Yin-Liu, Zhongguo Gudai Yinyue Shigao (Draft History of Chinese Ancient Music), 2 vols. (Beijing: People’s Music Publishing House, 1980).

Origin and History

Cao Zheng, "Guanyu Guzheng Lishi de Tantao (Research on the History of the Zheng)," Zhongguo Yinyue (Chinese Music), 1 (Beijing, 1981), 40-43;

Ding Cheng-Yun, "Zhengshi Gouchen (On the History of the Zheng)," Papers of the Guzheng Academic Exchange Conference of China, 1986;

Huang Cheng-Yuan, "Gongyuanqian Wubainian de Guzheng: Guixi Yamu Chutu Yueqi Kao (An Ancient Zheng of 500 B.C.: Study of the Instruments Excavated from the Cave Tombs of Guixi County)," Zhongguo Yinyue (Chinese Music), 3 (Beijing, 1987), 39-40;

Jin Jian-Ming, "Lun Zheng zhi Qiyuan (On the Origin of the Zheng)," Yinyue Jiaoxue yu Keyan (Musical Education and Research), 5 (Shanghai, 1981);

Qiu Da-Cheng, "Zhongguo Zheng de Qiyuan (The Origin of the Chinese Zheng)," Xinghai Yinyue Xueyuan Xuebao (Journal of the Xinghai Conservatory of Music), 3 (Guangzhou, 1982);

Tang Mi-Sao, "Guzheng Shihua (On the History of the Zheng)," Papers of the Guzheng Academic Exchange Conference of China, 1986;

Zhao Man-Qin, "Zhengshi Qianxi (Preliminary Analysis of the History of the Zheng," Yinyue Yanjiu (Study of Music), 4 (Beijing, 1981), 65-68 and 114;

Zhou Yan-Jia and Li Shi-Bin, "Qinzheng zai Qin: Shaanxi Yulin Guzheng Kaocha Baogao (The Qinzheng in the Qin Area: Investigation Report on the Guzheng in Yulin, Shaanxi Province)," Jiaoxiang, I (Xian, 1982), 21-25.

Musical styles of the regional schools

Cao Zheng, "Guanyu Ersi Pu he Ersi Pu yu Gongche Pu Guanxi de Tantao (Ersi Music Notation and Its Relations with Gongche Music Notation),"

Minzu Minjian Yinyue Yanjiu (Study of Traditional and Folk Music), 2 (Guangzhou, 1981), 33-40;

Chen Lei- Shi, "Chaoyue Juepu Ersi Pu Yuanliu Kao (Research on the Origin and Development of the Chaozhou Music Notation, Ersi Notation),"

Minzu Minjian Yinyue Yanjiu (Study of Traditional and Folk Music), 2 (Guangzhou, 1981), 41-52;

Wu Shi-Li, "Yitan Ersi Pu (Discussion on Ersi Notation),"

Minzu Minjian Yinyue Yanjiu (Study of Traditional and Folk Music), 4 (Guangzhou, 1983), 64-70 and 63;

Liang Ming-Yue, "Performance Practice as a Recreative Process in Chinese Zheng Zither Music," The World of Music, 27: 1 (1985), 48-65.

Literary context found in reference works

Research Institute of Chinese Music, Central Conservatory of Music, ed., Zhongguo Gudai Yinyue Shiliao Jiyao (A Summary of the Historical Records on Ancient Chinese Music), Vol. 1 (Beijing: Zhonghua Publishing House, 1962).

Yu Shi-Nan, ed. Bei Tang Shu Chao, the earliest reference book extant today, 2 vols. (completed in the Sui Dynasty, c. 610; rpt. Taipei: Wenhai Publishing House, 1962);

Ou-Yang Xun et al., eds., Yi Wen Lei Ju, a reference book of literature and arts, 4 vols. (completed in the Tang Dynasty, c. 624; rpt. Shanghai: Shanghai Guji Publishing House, 1965);

Li Fang et al., eds., Tai Ping Yu Lan, a reference book of the Song Dynasty, 7 vols. (completed in c. 983; rpt. Taipei: Taiwan Shangwu Publishing House, 1935);

Chen Meng-Lei, ed., Gu Jin Tu Shu J i Cheng (The Chinese Encyclopedia), the most comprehensive reference book extant today, 100 vols. and 1 vol. of maps (completed in the Qing Dynasty, 1706; rpt. Taipei: Book World Co., 1964).

Development of the Zheng found in reference works

Fang Xuan-Ling et al., Jin Shu (The Standard History of the Jin Dynasty), 10 vols. (completed in the Tang Dynasty, 648, in 130 vols.; rpt. Beijing: Zhonghua Publishing House, 1974);

Wei Zhi et al., Sui Shu (The Standard History of the Sui Dynasty), 6 vols. (completed in the Tang Dynasty, 652, in 85 vols.; rpt. Beijing: Zhonghua Publishing House, 1973);

Liu Xu et al., Jiu Tang Shu (The Old Standard History of the Tang Dynasty), 16 vols. (completed in the Five Dynasties, 945, in 200 vols.; rpt. Beijing: Zhonghua Publishing House, 1975);

Ou-Yang Xiu and Song Qi, Xin Tang Shu (The New Standard History of the Tang Dynasty), 20 vols. (completed in the Song Dynasty, 1060, in 225 vols.; rpt. Beijing: Zhonghua Publishing House, 1975);

Tuo Tuo et al., Song Shi (The Standard History of the Song Dynasty), 40 vols. (completed in the Yuan Dynasty, 1345, in 496 vols.; rpt. Beijing: Zhonghua Publishing House, 1977);

Song Lian et al., Yuan Shi (The Standard History of the Yuan Dynasty), 15 vols. (completed in the Ming Dynasty, 1370, in 210 vols.; rpt. Beijing: Zhonghua Publishing House, 1976).

Artwork and other Visual References

Research Institute of Music, Chinese Academy of Arts, ed., Zhongguo Yinyueshi Tujian (A Pictorial Guide to the History of Chinese Music) (Beijing: People’s Music Publishing House, 1988).