Arkivism
Listening to the Qin (Zither)
CC0 · no rights reserved

Listening to the Qin (Zither)

Liu Songnian (Chinese, c. 1150-after 1225), artist · 1150–after 1225 · Album leaf; ink and slight color on silk

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.

About this work

Listening to the Qin recalls the story of Bo Ya, a musician who loved to play the qin (a seven-stringed zither) for Zhong Ziqi, who was a discerning listener. The cool shade of the pine trees and the incense wafting from the burner complemented the atmosphere created by the music. After Zhang died, Bo refused to play the instrument ever again. The intimate format of the album leaf focuses on the music as the key to stir the heart and soul of both player and listener.

Cleveland Museum of Art’s own description
Credit lineListening to the Qin (Zither) (聽琴圖), 1150–after 1225. Liu Songnian (Chinese, c. 1150-after 1225). Album leaf; ink and slight color on silk; image: 23.8 x 24.6 cm (9 3/8 x 9 11/16 in.); with mat: 33.3 x 40.5 cm (13 1/8 x 15 15/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund, 1983.85

Similar works