Instrument Sales

China Arts sources good quality and good value instruments directly from China.  
We may also have some ‘preloved’ instruments in stock and do occasionally buy good quality used instruments for resale.  

Details are available on request. Please contact us.

A traditional Chinese pipa string instrument, featuring a pear-shaped body and intricate craftsmanship.

Pipa

A four-stringed fretted lute with a pear shaped soundbox played with either real or artificial finger nails.  The word pipa represents the two plucking motions, ‘pi’ meaning to pluck forward and ‘pa’ to pluck backwards.  Four contrasting styles are distinguished in the traditional pipa repertoire: wen (civil), wu (martial) da (suite), and xiao (individual).

Guqin

The guqin or qin is an unfretted zither with 7 strings.  It creates a contemplative nd sophisticated soundworld that was much loved by literati throughout its history.  The qin has a history of over 3,000 years and whilst there are over 3,000 surviving notations few have actually been brought back to life.    

A traditional Chinese guzheng string instrument, featuring a long wooden body and elegant design."

Guzheng

The guzheng or zheng is a 21-string plucked zither with a rectangular sound box.  Whilst it has a history of over 2,000 years since the beginning of the C20th century is has developed as a popular solo instrument as well as for accompaniment in the Chinese Orchestra.

A traditional Chinese erhu instrument, showcasing its slim wooden body and elegant craftsmanship.

Erhu

Two-stringed fiddle – a popular instrument throughout China.  It originated among the nomadic tribes to the north of China during the Tang (618-907) dynasty and was traditionally played on horseback.  The bow is made of horse-hair and is held between the two strings which are tuned a fifth apart.