Web Composer: 
City Chinese Orchestra
Wong Chin Loon
E-mail:
chinloon@pacific.net.sg
Updated:
28 Jun 1997
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Zhong Ruan is a medium pitch Plucking Instrument of the Ruan Family.
Ruan is a pucking instrument that has a long history. In BC 115, Han Wu Emperor wanted to make a plucking musical instrument immediately for the Wu Shun Princess whom he was going to marry. So he ordered his instrument technicians to make it in the shortest time possible. As a result, Ruan was invented. In Dong Jin (AD 317~420), Ruan Xian of "Zhu Ling Qi Xian" (The Talented Seven) can play this instrument well. And this instrument became popular among the people. However due to the chaotic situation at those times, the instrument was lost. It was not until Tang Dynasty (AD 684~701) that the Ruan was rediscovered and was named after Ruan Xian. In the modern China, Ruan is improvised upon and various sizes of Ruan are developed to give different tones and pitch.
Its structure is one of a round wooden drum and a long extended fingering board. It can be played by a plastic pick or finger nails. It has four string, and Zhong Ruan is tuned to G, D, G, D. The sound of Zhong Ruan is soft, sweet and mellow. There are more than 30 types of right hand plucking techniques and more than 10 tyes of left hnd fingering techniques. It is used in Chinese Orchestra or as Solos on stage. Famous Solos Pieces are "Si Lu Tuo Ling", and "Yun Nan Hui Yi".