leiqin
The leiqin (雷琴 or 擂琴, literally "thunderous instrument"; also called leihu) is a Chinese bowed string musical instrument.
leiqin
Nikolaj Potanin · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Field
- bowed string instrument
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Documentary summary
The leiqin (雷琴 or 擂琴, literally "thunderous instrument"; also called leihu) is a Chinese bowed string musical instrument.
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original value insufficient · checked 25 September 2026
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wikidata · Q1815667
In this article
Construction
Construction
Made of brass and wood, the leiqin is covered with snakeskin and has a long fretless fingerboard. The two strings pass over a small bridge that is placed on the snakeskin, near the top edge. A mobile unit called a shankou holds the strings in place.
History
History
Wang Dianyu, a traditional folk musician from Shandong, created the leiqin in the late 1920s. It was adapted from an earlier traditional instrument called zhuihu.
Audio
Audio
Leiqin MP3s (click on headphones to listen to individual tracks)
Video
Video
Leiqin video
Blind street musician playing 擂琴
Nikolaj Potanin from Russia · Blind street musician playing 擂琴
Blind street musician playing 擂琴
Nikolaj Potanin from Russia · Blind street musician playing 擂琴
Playing technique
The leiqin is played while the player is seated in a chair, with the instrument's body resting in his or her lap and held in a vertical or near-vertical position. Unlike the erhu and other instruments in the huqin family, the strings are touched against the fingerboard in the same technique as the sanxian. Players use a leg rest, typically made of solid wood with a smooth, flat bottom. Leg rests especially aid beginners who may not have exact control over their playing pressure.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Zhang, Zixue. Effect of humidity on the vibrating membrane of the python skin and eco-friendly materials imitation skin on traditional Chinese musical instrument - Leiqin. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development. 13. 1. 1666-1679. January 2024.
- 2.Zhang, Zixue. Remodeling the Leiqin Leg Rest with Additive Manufacturing: Enhancing Performers’ Learning Interest. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development. 14. 1. 1607-1619. February 2025.
References
Citations
References
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