Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Zhao Mei) news: How popular was the konghou, an ancient plucked string instrument, along the Silk Road? The recent "Silk Road Musical Instruments Exhibition" at the Xinjiang Museum showcases its influence. The exhibition features two prominent replicas of the konghou, as well as murals and reliefs that depict the instrument. These artifacts illustrate the widespread influence and popularity of this ancient instrument along the Silk Road.

Photo shows the konghou replicas displayed in a showcase in an exhibition hall of the Xinjiang Museum, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/ Zhao Mei)

The two replicas are based on konghou artifacts excavated from the Zhagunluke ancient graves in Qiemo County, representing the earliest known examples of the instrument found in Xinjiang.

In 1996, three konghou instruments were unearthed from the Zhagunluke ancient graves, with two dating back 2,500 years and one no later than the Western Han Dynasty. "The konghou excavated from the Zhagunluke site serves as a key that unlocks the study of konghou music, providing tangible evidence for the research of the musical history of the Western Regions and filling a significant gap in the history of Chinese music development, marking a groundbreaking achievement," said Lu Lipeng, a researcher at the Xinjiang Museum.

Photo shows a konghou replica restored based on the instrument unearthed from the Zhagunluke ancient graves in Qiemo County in an exhibition hall of the Xinjiang Museum, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/ Zhao Mei)

Following this, archaeologists have gradually excavated several konghou from sites such as the Jierzankale cemetery in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, the Yanghai cemetery in Shanshan County, and the Aisikexiaernan cemetery in Hami City. To date, a total of 24 konghou have been discovered within Xinjiang, making it one of the regions with the highest number of excavated konghou both domestically and internationally.

Researchers have found that the transmission of the konghou from west to east did not occur through physical artifacts but rather through the local population absorbing incoming information and crafting the instruments from local timber. "The localization of the konghou in Xinjiang reflects the inclusive nature of Chinese culture and serves as a true depiction of civilizational exchange," stated Lu Lipeng.

Photo shows a konghou replica in an exhibition hall of the Xinjiang Museum, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the original of which is housed in the Shosoin Temple in Japan. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/ Zhao Mei)

Konghou, one of the oldest plucked string instruments in the world, also known as kanhou. In ancient times, konghou was categorized into different forms. It was introduced to the Central Plains from Central Asia via the Western Regions and enjoyed a period of popularity during the Han and Tang dynasties. Numerous representations of konghou performances can be found in the cave murals along the Silk Road. During the Tang Dynasty, the vertical konghou rapidly spread throughout the Central Plains and reached the Korean Peninsula and Japan.

According to historical records, during the Han dynasty, after the konghou was introduced to the Central Plains, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 220) ordered court musicians to replicate and improve the design of the konghou, while also establishing the Music Bureau to compile music collected from the folk. Due to its clear tone and graceful resonance, the konghou became highly popular in both court and folk settings. We can tell from many poems how the konghou had already integrated into daily life during that era.

Photo shows a replica of a ceramic relief of a musician playing konghou in an exhibition hall of the Xinjiang Museum, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/ Zhao Mei)

During the Tang Dynasty, the development of the konghou reached its peak and brilliance. The Tang poet Li He vividly depicted the exceptional skills of the musician Li Ping playing the konghou and the instrument's enchanting melodies in his poem.

The konghou remained popular in the imperial court during the Northern Song Dynasty. However, it fell into obscurity after the late Ming and early Qing dynasties.

In modern times, pioneers in the Chinese music and instrument sectors have been dedicated to researching and replicating the konghou, seeking to revive its musical legacy. After generations of relentless efforts, the modern konghou breathed new life on stage in the 1980s.

In 2016, Qiemo County established Xinjiang's first public teaching and teacher training base for the konghou, implementing the "Seed Teacher" and "Konghou Children" projects. This initiative supports a group of music teachers and students in primary and secondary schools to learn konghou performance. The long-lost sounds of the konghou once again resonate over the land of Qiemo County, as performers express the strings' melodies from different eras, gradually contributing to the continuous cultural flow of the Chinese nation.

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