| The guqin, or seven-stringed zither, is | | | | defeating an army of thousands. The story of |
| China's oldest stringed instrument, and as | | | | Kong Cheng Ji can be found in the famous |
| legend has it, its sweet sounds once helped | | | | 15th century novel Romance of the Three |
| defeat an army. Now this ancient instrument | | | | Kingdoms. |
| experiences a modern-day renaissance. This | | | | |
| holiday season, NTDTV's Holiday Wonders (live | | | | During the "Three Kingdoms" period (220-280 |
| at the Beacon Theater on Broadway, NYC, Dec. | | | | AD), the Kingdom of Shu underwent a series of |
| 19-24, 2006) brings a unique opportunity to | | | | defeats by the Kingdom of Wei. On one |
| experience the magic of traditional Chinese | | | | occasion the Wei general, Sima Yi, advanced |
| culture, using traditional and ancient | | | | with his armies to the gate of a Shu city, |
| instruments. The magnificence of the | | | | unaware that there were no Shu soldiers |
| backdrops, the abundant imagination, the | | | | within the city to protect it. |
| marvelous music, the splendor of the | | | | |
| costumes, and the actors' great | | | | On seeing the Wei army advance, rather than |
| skill--altogether make for outstanding | | | | capitulating, the Shu military advisor Zhuge |
| entertainment reflecting China's 5,000 years | | | | Liang went to the gate tower and played a |
| of civilization and traditional culture--a | | | | beautiful melody on his guqin. |
| culture full of myths and legends. | | | | |
| | | | As he listened, Sima Yi, the general of the |
| The first guqins were made about 3,000 years | | | | invading army, found himself in a quandary. |
| ago. They were very simple, with just one or | | | | He tried to tell from the nuance of the music |
| two strings. As aesthetic concepts flowered | | | | whether the city was truly empty, or if Shu |
| and playing skills improved, the instrument | | | | soldiers hid within it. Judging by the |
| changed. By the 3rd century the guqin had | | | | tranquil tones, he decided this was a trick |
| seven strings, and was very similar to the | | | | of Zhuge Liang's to tempt his army into an |
| instrument played today. | | | | ambush, and so he ordered a retreat. |
| | | | |
| Historically, the guqin has been viewed as a | | | | The ruse helped the Kingdom of Shu to avoid |
| symbol of high culture, as well as the | | | | another defeat and ultimate destruction. |
| instrument most able to express the essence | | | | |
| of Chinese music. There is consequently a | | | | You may wonder what melody Zhuge Liang |
| great deal of symbolism surrounding the | | | | played. Nobody knows. This will probably |
| guqin. | | | | forever remain a secret shrouded in the mists |
| | | | of history. |
| In ancient China, the guqin was an instrument | | | | |
| played mainly by those of noble birth. Among | | | | In addition to Holiday Wonders, NTDTV also |
| the 3,000 or so guqin tunes that have been | | | | brings to live the divine beauty of the |
| handed down, the majority are works by the | | | | ancient East with its now-legendary Chinese |
| then ruling class, expressing their | | | | New Year Spectacular . This year the |
| aspirations. | | | | "Spectacular" is grander than ever, touring |
| | | | 26 mayor cities worldwide with more than |
| In Chinese history, there is a famous story | | | | 1,000 performers between January and March |
| called the "Empty City Trick" (Kong Cheng Ji) | | | | 2007. The NYC flagship show returns to Radio |
| in which the guqin played the key role in | | | | City Music Hall for seven performances. |