ABOUT THE KONG HOU- CHINESE HARP

The Kong Hou is an ancient instrument of China. It is a precious artifact in the cultural treasury of traditional Chinese music.Historical records indicate that there were three categories of the Kong Hou based upon their shape: the Wuo Kong Hou, the Shoo Kong Hou, and the Fong Shou Kong Hou.

A. WUO KONG HOU � A Horizontal Kong Hou

The strings of the Wuo Kong Hou were tied in a horizontal manner. The instrument looks like a Chin or Se, both Chinese plucked instruments with five to seven strings.The strings were made of silk, tied to the surface of the sound board. Each string was placed upon multiple frets, set between the strings and the sound board.

The player set the Wuo Kong Hou on the floor to play it horizontally.The strings were plucked with a wooden pick in one hand, and pressed with the other.

The Chinese built the Wuo Kong Hou during the Chun Qiu Zhan Quo period (1100 � 256 B.C.) in a country called Choo Guo. The instrument became popular until late in the Sung Dynasty (960- 1279 A.D.). It gradually died out, but it had traveled and developed into Korea and Japan. Later it was named the Xuan Qin or Ku-Moon-Go in Korea and the Bai Ji Qin in Japan. Bai Ji was the ancient name of Korea.