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Toronto Guqin Society

Standards of the Guqin

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Description

Standards of the Guqin is the first original textbook in English for the Chinese seven-stringed zither, traditionally favoured by scholars and clergy past and present. This book provides a holistic curriculum for students without prior knowledge of the Chinese language or culture, covering history, construction, technique, and critique of the musical tradition. The Fifth Edition features a revised and updated curriculum of Chinese music theory (including temperament, modality, tuning, and musical analysis) and history in addition to performance, a chapter on the historical manuscript interpretation process known as dapu. All jianzipu fingering tablature and musical scores are digitally generated in high-resolution for quality legibility. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Toronto Guqin Society


Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 12, 2010


Edition ‏ : ‎ Fourth Edition


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Print length ‏ : ‎ 226 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0986622508


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 02


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds


Reading age ‏ : ‎ 1 year and up


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 0.48 x 11 inches


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • From Beginner to Master
Format: Paperback
This book contains essential knowledge for beginners of guqin, namely the Chinese notation system in written music (jianzipu). It also contains very high level music theory information, which might go over the heads of less knowledgeable musicians (myself included). Though I have played multiple instruments, this is the most music theory I have read, so it presents a new challenge, just like the instrument itself. However, this book shows a great opportunity to grow as a musician with guqin. Repertoire songs have a short section after that aids in increasing the lessons you will learn from each piece. It is very unfortunate that my copy has blank musical staffs for Shang Motif (p174), Celestial Air (p176), and Hidden Virtues (p178). Despite that, I still believe this book is fundamental (and more!) to a guqin learner who is not fluent in Mandarin. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2024 by 9oW
    • A good introduction to the guqin
Format: Paperback
Review Image by Alex Alex
Review Image by Alex Alex
Review Image by Alex Alex
Review Image by Alex Alex
Review Image by Alex Alex
The author claims that it’s written at the high school level, but even then, all the complex and abstract musical theory and mathematics makes it a rather dense read. At best, I think that most of the reading is suited at the college level. I just wish that the author could have included detailed and easy to understand info on how to play it. It goes from score symbols, to complex and dense reading, and then straight to the music scores; also, I wish that the author could have written the accompanying musical scores in jianpu rather than western musical theory. At best, it is better suited for college level reading and academia; and I highly regret saying that because I personally stay away from tedious academic writing. I also wonder why the author chose to use numbers to mark tones in Mandarin (e.x. mo3, gou1, ti1), instead of pinyin? Anyway, it is a good introduction to the guqin that is written in English; this is perhaps the only English written manual for the guqin as it is extremely rare to find anything else in English. Use it as a supplement for your lessons and as a review. I highly suggest that you find a teacher and use this manual to supplement your learning. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2022 by Alex Alex
    • Very detailed, excellent value-for-money! :-)
Format: Paperback
This book describes the guqin so well and in such detail, that although I have not received the instrument in the mail yet I already feel like I I know everything I need to know to start playing the instrument. It has very well illustrated instructions, detailed explanations, and goes very in-depth about everything it needs to. The book even includes various practice pieces in the back, which is not something I was expecting! Absolutely fantastic, I can't wait to start using it when I get the instrument in! :-) ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2020 by mokona madoki
    • The Only One Out There
Format: Paperback
Review Image by W. Caulfield W. Caulfield
Got my new guqin and started looking for resources. Got a nice book in Chinese from the shop, got lots of explanations for the notation online and from the Abiding in Antiquity translation. This book brings it all together in one place, in English. Seems to be the only source for learning guqin in English, so five stars for that. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2022 by W. Caulfield W. Caulfield
    • Best fingering chart I've found
Format: Paperback
This has the best finding chart I have found and good info. I'm really glad that the book that came with my guqin has simple learning bars though, since this one skips to more advanced music. I will use the charts and explanations in this book to help notate my book that is in Chinese. The pair of books should get me a good base knowledge. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2024 by Ladybug
    • A Must-Have for lovers of Chinese music!
Format: Paperback
The only book of it's kind in English. Now in it's third edition, "Standards of the Guchin" provides the quintessential introduction to China's most mysterious, celestial music and it's history. Everything is here with references to on line instructional videos and full length performances by the author. Aesthetics, notation, tuning systems, technique and lessons with many pieces serve as a complete beginning curriculum for private and group instruction. This comprehensive volume addresses a world of specific knowledge never before available to English readers and fosters a love and appreciation of the Guchin and it's music,from the most ancient times up until today. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2016 by Dean Poulsen
    • Really Informative
Format: Paperback
Thank you for this book on standards in Guqin. I am new to the qin and found this very illuminating. Thank You!
Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2021 by Ariella
    • Cannot teach yourself with this book, translation does work either.
Format: Paperback
too hard of a book to understand, it was written in another language and some is translated but not all, very hard to teach yourself and understand.
Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2025 by Lechef

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