Zheng

Zheng, 筝 in Chinese, is a stringed instrument with a history of more than 2, 000 years. Its early history can be traced back to Qin Dynasty about 2200 years ago, and it was in vogue during the Qin in present-day Shaanxi, and that is why it is also called Qin Zheng.
According to ancient books, the Zheng originally had only five strings and was made from bamboo. During the Qin the number of strings increased to 10, and wood was used instead of bamboo. After the Tang, it became a 13-stringed instrument.
Today, with 13, 14 or 16 strings stretched on a large oblong wooden resonator, the Zheng is able to emit graceful tones. It is still very much in use in China for solos or ensembles.