Tao Chu-Shen - Guqin

[comedyman112]

is he named Shen ? hehe ninja

[XChronic5677]

@ASTF11 Yes. I' sure it's an electric zither >_>. But to seriously answer your question, it isn't. Other than possibly an acoustic room.

[pyrodevil59]

League of Legends brought me here.

[paladinhuch]

@pyrodevil59 As was I, sir Devil. As was I.

[GROMINBLX]

@Phritz1515 Fuck yea :D

[Phritz1515]

Sona.

[johnnyMarkusBadovi]

@FibrousAcquiescence GET READY....THE SWORDS AND SPEARS ARE GOING TO COME FLYING OUT OF THERE ANY SECOND!!! only the old lady with the screaming power can defeat him!!!

[ASTF11]

is this instrument amplified by any mean ?

thanks a lot

[GZH1234]

@ASTF11 tThat's just it's sound... What you are talking about might be cause because of the bad quality. Still a good video nonetheless.

[ihategordonstoun]

@ASTF11 ABSOLUTLY ! i have a gu qin aswell and it is an incredibly soft instrument.

[ProtectYourNecks]

Quiz on this tommorow!!!

[GusTheBus326]

@ProtectYourNecks LOL its funny how ur name is protect yo neck which is wu tang clan and ur looking up this cool instrument

[AnimePanda33]

amazing!

[nemesisnick66]

thumbs up if u learned about Guqin from kung fu hustle

[th4t0necr4zyguy]

@nemesisnick66 I literally just watched that...I've always loved the instrument though! It sounds so calming and pretty.

[nemesisnick66]

dat bass :3

[straightohell]

Is the playing harmonics in addition to notes or do the notes just ring like that on a guqin? I'm thinking of the beginning in particular.

[MrAndromedean]

@Lasse3030 you < dirt

everyone else =

[rhixxxify]

Suaranya menusuk hati.

[Athor861114]

this song is like as a wild west song :) It's great :)

[Athor861114]

this song is like as a wild west song :)

[thoosequa]

@Lasse3030 You can't compare cultures with each other. Maybe you are more into the chinese culture, but still Japan looks back to a more than two thousand years old history.

[Zophixan]

@thoosequa a good part of Japanese culture shares a lot of Song and Tang aesthetics. Of course they're done their own thing with them as well.

[Crpetersena]

Masterful performance , thank you for sharing this with us..

[FibrousAcquiescence]

Kung Fu Hustle

[q1w2e381048104]

omg, amazing Chinese culture

[laoqinyou]

Chinese name: 陶筑生 pinyin: Tao Zhusheng.

[laoqinyou]

This is my teacher. He was a student of Wu Zonghan. The piece is the Meian pai (school) version of pingshaluoyan. It might be wise to note that this film was made in the 70s at University of Washington by Dr. Robert Garfias who taught there at the time. Tao laoshi is using silk strings for a number of reasons (the big one being no other kinds of strings barring fishing line were available outside China).

[HaikuFlash]

If I can find a teacher in Austin, Texas, USA, who will give me the chance to learn this instrument, I will undergo training. Every single time I hear it, I am deeply moved.

[kcwelsch]

Did the Delta Blues boys of old get inspiration from this, or was it the other way around, or did such a similar style develop independently in both Asia and Mississippi?

[elspoko]

@kcwelsch Well, all honest music carry the same basic principles. Just like any other art. While the techniques may be widely differing, a common bond of honest emotion can be found. Doesn't matter where you're from, we all share similar feelings.

[DANCERRAVER]

@kcwelsch my friend music is a universal language, anything is possible....the only limit is the mind

Cheers

[StickyVinny]

Wow!

[34xati]

Mississippi Delta Blues :-)  (sorry)

[vikingjarl]

@34xati I thought the same thing. We're just awful people...

[Advancedgod]

@34xati This instrument has been mentioned in scriptures 3000 years old, when the Mississippi wasn't even known to the europeans whose grand grand grand grandchildren would later travel to America.

[votumseparatum1]

@Advancedgod I guess he meant it sounds like the blues and it does but older.

[TheOneToxic]

this is amazing but the part were it goes allover the place out of tune is a little anyoing

[ghotiemama]

I took lesson on this instrument and scratching my hand across the strings hurt so much that I stopped:(

[alphamale442]

This instrument is just so mesmerizing, I could listen to it for days. The wide array of sounds it makes is just sensational. The low and high bass fluctuations is just amazing, this man has some wonderful talent.

[Seres1091]

Why is he wearing Manchu clothes?

[Zophixan]

@Seres1091 Bring back the Hanfu!!

[marcusyuguang]

@Seres1091 cause it was banned in the Ming dynasty(i think). They thought it was more practical, but quite ugly really... the hanfu is having a revival tho, and it looks hell beta than the kimono and hanbok, since it was the original

[Seres1091]

@marcusyuguang Lol I know, it was kind of a "rhetorical" question (I think that's what it's called). BTW it was the Manchu Qing dynasty :-)

[Zophixan]

@marcusyuguang Not practicallity, more a way of telling who was loyal to the Manchu. It was enforced in the most evil of ways. Entire cities were wiped out enforcing this rule, as well as the queue order. The hanfu is having a revival lol. I support the hanfu movement, although not wearing it public as where I am, in the countryside of the UK, I'm pretty sure the Chavs would give me trouble!

[nepalnt21]

i think the page your link leads to has been changed...

i believe this is the new page:

h t t p s ://eee.uci.edu/programs/rgarfi­as/films.html (just delete the spaces)

[alphamale442]

@nepalnt21 Does UCI refer to University of Irvine?

[nepalnt21]

@alphamale442 yup, uc irvine... robert garfias has his own area, but for some reason the link i posted doesnt even work.

[nepalnt21]

@alphamale442 yup, uc irvine... robert garfias has his own area, but for some reason the link i posted doesnt even work.

try this one...

h t t p://aris.ss.uci.edu/rgarfias/

[nepalnt21]

@nepalnt21 that link doesnt work either...

lol maybe this one????

h t t p://aris.ss.uci.edu/rgarfias/

[Ele3tricEye]

interesting how the first stringed instrument is still played even after 5000 years

[ImBeast360]

i love to listen to this music and just reflect on my life and what will be in my future im only 18 and i have been threw allot and still have much to go but surprisingly with this i reflect on it but i get a feeling of i just dont care what happens good or bad its gonna happen ill end up like everyone else in the end anyway so whatever u know?

[MrCrazyAlligator]

@ImBeast360 Run-on-sentences are awesome, and totally make you sound smart.

[ImBeast360]

@MrCrazyAlligator ok?

[MrHorizon]

Well im about 20 and i've been playing bass guitar/gutiar since I was 13 years old, this doesn't actually look all that hard to pick up and be creative with. I think I want to give it a go.

[Kongming48]

@MrHorizon

noops... guqin is the hardest musical instrument in china

even the note they have their own = =

[Graddee]

I wish I could play... I can't find one, can't find a teacher and I'm probably too old to start (16)

Would playing the European Harp help with this at all?

[metalliriffer]

@Graddee whaaaat no one is ever too old to begin learning a musical instrument!! and you can be your own teacher if you really want to play it that badly. It'll take a bit longer, but to become self-taught in something as wonderful as music is truly a noble task.

[LotusDragon09]

A guqin's bass notes sound so awesome. I wish they were played more.

[adnmoh1]

always brings tears to my eyes everytime i hear the guqin......

[redmond1031]

@BulliedbyFather that's what they said when you were born D: oh i'm sorry, did i insult you? although you maybe deserving after insulting the guqin.

i'm kiddinggggggg settle dowwnnnn :s friends again?

[octavian88888888]

@BulliedbyFather fuck off and die you uncultured piece of shit.

[Ghost333999]

I'm so happy that a few keep this ancient art alive through all the trial and tribulation that mankind has seen. Let us hope that future generations can enjoy this beautiful art.

[vachiercoliss]

personnaly I think its the best instrument ever :)

[D1amond5korpion]

@vachiercoliss......... i say the same thing...... this is one of my favorite instruments

[bolson678]

i just reazlied, its all just a minor pentatonic scale. but no less groovy. i really love this.

[Xxjason420xX]

well buying one of these getting stoned out and playing it non stop

love it ...

[cynicalbarbs]

Excuse me...

Is it possible you're totally missing the point?

The guqin is not merely played, it is wholly experienced.

[kingoftheswing000]

@Xxjason420xX lol nice dude, i wish i could do the same...

[richardyingren]

wow!!

[InfedelKillerz]

Its like a chinese string piano

[hknuddv]

Lulz at the people who are arguing about the soul and even clothes.

You have obviously missed the point of this music.

[hknuddv]

float away,

on your bed,

of moonlit reeds.

[arua694]

careful you might blow a wind sword there lol

[redmond1031]

@arua694 hahahahaha i'm still confused as to what that instrument is meant to be... although they called it a guqin it's more like a guzheng with guqin strings :s if that makes sense

[saralicia21]

I thought the song was "Ping Sha Lo Yen"

[tonecardinale23]

i say the dude can wear whatever he wants while playing that thing...it still sounds great...spending time focusing on the dress your missing the music

[nobeznazwyno]

....this makes my soul pause and smile.

does anyone know where I can purchase high quality MP3 (320kbs) of this song?

[atka77]

Its so beautiful..

If yo want to hear an extreme íhungarian zither play see Lajkó félix's video

/watch?v=dZADFIHrOiU&

[jetex600]

i like the version on the movie hero

[gugugagaking]

I really love this instrument, because it feels so .. deep with lots of thoughts, meditative, quality. Really wanna learn how to better appreciate the music, and play the instrument.

[TheBofferFighter]

Wonderful

[reggieobster]

plz do not play Guqin while wearing Qipao or manchurian dress.

[mehdan2]

agreed

[Sojio]

@reggieobster Why is this? I am not knowledgable in these types of customs. But I would like to learn.

[dopeyful]

Qipao aka Manchurian dress is what the Manchu people wore when they went into power, creating the Qing dynasty. Wearing the Hanfu is more appropriate than wearing the Qipao. I think it's because the guqin was the creation and culture of dynasties way before the Qing. It was the Han people's culture, and not the Machu people... something like that? Don't quote me on it.

[reggieobster]

@Sojio

Guqin is unique to han chinese culture and the corresponding costume is wide-sleeved Hanfu. Plz check it out on my channel. Both Guqin & Hanfu represent inner peace, yin-yang balance & elegence, which nomadic Qipao totally matches nowhere at all.

[dragateli]

@reggieobster it is admirable that there is pursuit of authenticisim, but remember that it is not what one wears that is what they are, nor a show of how much peace they have, which is a pretty stupid statement in itself. This musician has obvious skill and plays wonderfully, so it doesn't really matter waht he wears, he need not wear a hanfu to be doing it right, or whatever it is you are implying, at least that is what it looks like

[Skattotter]

Wear what you like, it sounds beautiful.

[reggieobster]

Well it's certainly the freedom to wear what the performer likes. But the Qipao is the costume of nomadic manchurian, whose spirit is hunting & fighting on horse. But Guqin is unique to Han chinese culture, whose spirit is inner peace & yin-yang philosophy. To see this video is like playing cello with underwears on.

[TKane001]

@reggieobster why? simple curiosity, i don't know the reference your making...

[CharlieHuang]

@reggieobster Irrelevant. It does not matter what one wears when playing qin be Hanfu, Manfu, kimono, Hanbok, sari, business suit, Mao suit t-shirt and jeans, morning dress, etc. It makes absolutely no difference to the music.

[masonkiller666]

@CharlieHuang Exactly I don't get what reggieobster is on about

[philXD21]

@reggieobster why?



[S1587915G]

While the music is not bad, as an instrument the guqin just seems a bit too sedate and meditative, too limited to music of this nature. It's difficult to imagine a LIVELY, ENERGETIC guqin tune.

[Krummablod]

Because it's not made to be energetic...

[S1587915G]

That's my complaint. It's too limited to non-energetic types of music.

[crazyhapi]

valid note, perhaps you should check out the koto, the Japanese cousin of the guqin, it's a bit more lively if that's what you are looking for.

[necabiris]

it's difficult to imagine an e-guitar tune as meditative too!

An instrument doesn't have to offer much variety to be "good" - as long as you like it you shall like it!

[S1587915G]

That's why an e-guitar is limited in its musical repertoire, too, though in a different way.

[flyboyjin]

dude look up guzheng

[wooohooo727]

you should watch Red Cliff then. There is an AMAZING zither part between Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yun.

[revenge8692]

@wooohooo727 xD i just watched it yesterday!!! thats why ive been searching this instrument up haha! wow

[xiaojay888]

lol, that movie was amazing, and the guqin was a highlight

[sapporo81414]

樂樂也

[jw2113]

this instrument speaks to my soul like no other

[Olebrucanism]

@jw2113 There is no soul.

[jw2113]

wow i didnt know that thanks for letting me know i was going through life forming my own beliefs i didnt realise that someone could just tell me answers to questions no human can fully understand

[1dudeman2]

@jw2113 well know you the truth.people really cant think for themselves. right?

[1dudeman2]

@Olebrucanism maybe you dont have a soul...maybe?

[sjander29]

@Olebrucanism -If there is No Soul , then you should simply be quiet and let us enjoy this wonderful music ! Afterall , what can a Dead - Body possible have to say that`s worth hearing ? Hmmm?.....- Great Performance - Thank you for sharing !

[Rfreezy92feezy]

Likewise.

[Loud0glbc]

someone should hook one up to a mesa triple rectifier stack through a dd-3 and tube screamer .hyper phase?

[ilikepie3752]

@Loud0glbc omg thats a teriffic idea accept you would have to use a mike and it would feed back like hell

[Loud0glbc]

hook a pick up to that! wouldnt be too hard, jack white would do it in 4 min :)

[KatariaGujjar]

umm what?

[yoveo77]

Magnificent! The first time I heard a guqin piece, I was completely hooked right away by its sound and the mystical ambience it conveys.

[eastwest3002]

The Player is Mr. Tao Chu-Shen and he retires in WA. He also plays the real Anicent Northern Guzheng - he is pretty good in guzheng. For the guqin - he is the Mei 'An pai - the one w/lots of "yao".

[mafurock33]

such great use of the strings..

[riskysquirrel]

Bravo!!!! It's so deep, warm, sincere and straight forward. Just like a gentlemen with dignity.

[FrequencyAndSulphur]

Wonderful.

[baikabaga]

truly a labor of love

[baikabaga]

i saw him rib his hands after the piece, and i was wondering before hand, does that hurt playing an instrument like that? i can just see someone opening up their palm changing notes too fast.

[wearefruitcakes]

i play guzheng and i've fooled around a bit with guqin but i dont claim to be an expert on either, but it's particularly the fingertips that really hurt, pressing down the strings, sliding them around, plucking, etc. i'm not sure about opening up his palm, but i imagine what he's doing would be pretty painful for a beginner since they wouldn't have the callouses yet

[DKC60628]

Your hands grow used to it and they get stronger and more resilient to the instrument.

[namornik558]

its hurts prett much at teh start, but with flow of time the fingers skin get a but thicker ot the recepters wear out abit.

[iysum]

who is the player?

[WWWNATHAN]

it sounds beautiful :)

[an0de1li2ya3]

I do like this instrument very much - it is one of the oldest instruments very seldom played in to-day China. But these tones let me fly up into the sky1

[alostwolf]

really beautiful.

[samadriel]

Excellent.

[hurricaneandyyy]

oh my gosh, i want one so bad.

also, NaOH - the chemical compound for lye. why is it your name?

[Deadzone17]

cuz he is that awesome

[CludzyMasta]

lol i didnt know they called NaOH lye

[Awesomo4003]

is there anyway to find or download anything else by this guy?

[rahatkhan]

did you find out the answer to your question?

[SoberSzabi]

i really love this video,already watched it 1000 times :)

[eastwest3002]

Um.... I just wonder when this clip was being taken? In my fade memories, it was taken in Seatlle in the 70's or 80's???

[whipsack]

Guqin is an amazing instrument. Made popular most recently by Kung Fu Hustle.

Also my favorite scene in the movie.

[nivsha]

The film that actually put this instrument into view of movie goers was actually HERO, with the fight scene. Movies should not be a good point of accurate reference but just as an entertaining representation at the least. Both HERO and Kungfu Hussle were inspired by the original instruments and used their own creative license to invent inaccurate instruments. Kungfu Hustle hybridized the guzheng with the guqin, coming up with the dagger magical & mythical instrument in the film's fight scene.

[BigiZ225]

2:00-2:17 is so good i almost pass out when i hear it lol

[shorty1111111111]

watch the movie Hero, theres a guy in it that plays Guqin

[KingBerk104]

that scene is amazing, by far the best in the movie.

it is on youtube under the name:

"Hero - Nameless versus Sky"

[mooncow2]

Also does anyone know any like 'masters' f the guqin? Or people who are famous or just really good? Like I said though, CDs or the like

[HomeBoyCharlotte]

One is ZHA Fuxi (deseased), one is WU Ziying. Words cannot describe such music

[lvhotmail]

Wonderful! It's played with the traditional silk strings as well. You can tell by the color, and the grass-like sound when a note is slid up or down.

Thank you Naoh, much obliged.

[liquidfreak]

What a beautiful instrument

[mdejong140]

at least he dont need plectrum's

[MicroKurosaki]

The Guqin Instruments Have Silk Strings So It Shouldn't Cause Any Calluses. 8]

Indeed It Does Produce A Beautiful Sound.

[trapguitar]

I love the Guqin I've listen to it live and is just amazing!!!

[Bardrokh]

i'm german :D

[hits101]

One feels more intelligent just by listening to the Guqin.

[sean92k]

That or so pretentious that one must say one?

[penndraegon]

Kind of takes the innovativeness out of swamp blues.

[MooIAmMe]

Hahaha. That's so true.

[Bardrokh]

the assassin's scene in Kung fu hustle shows a kind of hybrid instrument between guqin and guzheng, wich has a guzheng sound and kinda guqin looks.

the instrument in hero is some kind of guqin..its kinda small though

[Symbioteposion]

in kung fu hustle though doesnt it shoot ghost spears and undead samurais :P hehe

[Bardrokh]

it does. my guqin can do that, too!! :D

[bunivasal]

Undead Chinese soldiers, technically speaking.

[hellokugou]

123木头人~~~~好傻哦~

[lasthope316]

indeed guqin is the instrument of the sages...Confucius fell in love with it...

[hhryah]

Such a soulful song! Absolutely classic.

[jmplowe]

What would those who know this kind of music better recommend as a CD for someone who loves this instrument and the guzheng to get? I just discovered them on Youtube by accident, and have fallen in love with them. Feel free to message me.

[mooncow2]

Yeah same with me! Let me know if anyone finds any great CD's of this. Thanks

[Idreamtobreakaway]

Are their scores in numbers like chinese orchestra or like the piano scores?

[newyorkairsoft]

The score is written in its own system based on Chinese. It looks almost like a different langauge.

[parki2007]

i am bt a stupid englishmen bt i fu**** love this instument how peaceful it is.i love it

[ddbxyrj]

It name is 平沙落雁.

[Katanajoe7]

is this the instrument played during the first fight in that film hero? and by those two blind assassins in kung fu hustle?

please correct me if i am miles off, i love this instrument