Guqin Appreciation and Experiential Activities
On June 13, Ms. Ng Ying Wai, a veteran teacher of the guqin with over 30 years of experience, organized a series of two sessions for more than 200 Grade 5 students at The ISF Academy. The sessions included guqin appreciation and experiential activities, immersing the students in the rich cultural heritage of this ancient Chinese instrument.
The guqin, also known as the “seven-string zither”, is one of the oldest string instruments in China. According to legend, it was created by the Fuxi and Shen Nong clans and is featured in the ancient poetry of the “Book of Songs” (Shijing), dating back over 3,000 years.
Over the years, the function of the guqin has evolved from being a mystical instrument in the hands of shamans to becoming an essential instrument of Confucian ritual and music, as well as a tool for cultivating moral character. It is considered one of the “Four Arts” of the Chinese literati.
In 1977, the United States launched a spaceship into space containing a wide range of cultural data about human beings on Earth, with the hope of communicating with intelligent beings in outer space. The satellite included a recording of 50 pieces of music from around the world, one of which was “Flowing Water”, played by renowned guqin player Guan Pinghu.
In 2003, the art of the guqin was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognizing its importance to Chinese culture and the world.
About the Speaker：
NG YING-wai is a Qin artist born in Hong Kong, and a retired professional nurse. She has been playing Qin for more than thirty years. She learned Qin playing from three teachers : TSE Chun-yan, GONG Yi, and YAO Gongbai (in chronological order), Qin making from CHOI Chang-sau, and Chinese calligraphy from QIAN Kaiwen. She took part in many Qin activities and performances in China and Hong Kong, and played an active role in the exhibition “The Legend of Silk and Wood – a Hong Kong Qin story” which was presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of Hong Kong, and co-organized by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and the CHOI Chang-Sau Qin Making Society. This 3-months exhibition was completed in March 2014. She is a member of the quqin section of the China Nationalities Orchestra Society, the Deyin Qin Society, and the Choi Chang-Sau Qin Making Society.
Speaker work
Name：Moonlight in Gentle Breeze / Silk String Qin Solo by NG Wing-wai（2 CD）
Producer：ROI PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
CD Code：RA-151001-2C
