The Legend of Silk and Wood: A Hong Kong Qin Story
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Fitting

  • Step 4: Fitting

    A hollowed and conditioned qin body next has hardwood accessories installed, such as the Mount Yue (yueshan), peg pond (zhenchi) board, peg shields (huzhen), dragon gum (longyin), and goose feet (yanzu). The adhesive is usually a mixture of raw lacquer and flour. One variation makes use of melted animal gum, such as pig skin gelatine. The Mount Yue, i.e. the bridge, is installed horizontally onto the qin head to support the strings while the dragon gum is a piece of wood placed in the middle of the tail to support the strings. Accessories on the tail, such as the ceremonial caps (guanjiao), are made of hardwood. They can protect the tail and are also used as decoration. Red sandalwood, mahogany, rosewood and ebony are considered premium hardwoods. The 13 markers (hui), which are usually made of mother-of-pearl, are inlaid on the surface of the qin. Among them, the seventh marker in the middle is slightly larger than the others. The other markers on each side are successively smaller than the previous one. Each marker is fitted at the harmonic point of the qin string. Each marker’s position has to be calculated according to the length of the qin string and are usually installed after the qin has been primed with lacquer cement.

  • Step 4: Fitting

    Tools and materials

    1. Tiger tongue rasp – for polishing the sides, refining rounded areas and decorating hardwood accessories
    2. Horse teeth rasp – thicker than the tiger tongue rasp, used for conditioning on a larger scale
    3. Hardwood accessories – peg shields, Mount Yue, peg pond board, goose feet, dragon gum and a pair of ceremonial caps (right to left)
    4. Abalone shell – can be used as the material for the markers
    5. The 13 markers – the seventh marker, as it sits in the middle, is slightly larger. The other markers on each side are successively smaller than the previous one.
    6. Flour – for mixing with raw lacquer to create an adhesive
    7. Animal gum – for use as an adhesive after being melted in a double boiler

  • Step 4: Fitting

    A top board (left) and a bottom board (right) fitted with hardwood accessories
    Maker: Choi Chang-sau