古琴，又称瑶琴、玉琴、丝桐和七弦琴，是中国的传统乐器，至少有三千年历史。古籍记载伏羲作琴，又有神农作琴、黄帝造琴、唐尧造琴等传说；舜定琴为五弦，文王增一弦，武王伐纣又增一弦为七弦；可见古琴文化的源远流长，博大精深。

　　古琴是中华文化中地位最崇高的乐器，自古“琴”为其特指，20世纪20年代开始称为古琴。琴有“士无故不撤琴瑟”和“左琴右书”之说。位列中国传统文化四艺“琴棋书画”之首，被视为高雅的代表，亦为文人吟唱时的伴奏乐器，自古以来一直是许多文人必备的知识和必修的科目。伯牙、子期以“高山流水”而成知音的故事流传至今；被视为友谊的象征。大量诗词文赋中都有琴的身影。

　　今天就来详解一下古琴，古琴中英文对照。

　　The Guqin

　　古琴

　　佚名 《重屏抚琴图》

　　古琴，又称中国七弦琴，为中国最古老的弹拨乐器之一， 有文字可考的历史有三千余年。

　　Guqin, It is a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument of the zither family with a history of more than 3000 years.

　　在中国古代，“琴、棋、书、画”历来被视为文人雅士修身养性的必由之径。古琴因其清、和、淡、雅的音乐品格寄寓了文人风凌傲骨、超凡脱俗的处世心态，而在音乐、棋术、书法、绘画中居于首位。

　　Guqin has traditionally been favored by scholars and literati as an instrument of great subtlety and refinement. Guqin has always been viewed as the first place among the four Chinese high culture activities such as Guqin,go Chess, calligraphy and painting.

　　明 杜堇《听琴图》

　　Symbolism in the Guqin

　　古琴结构与文化象征

　　在古琴中我们可以找到许多中国传统文化的元素。

　　There are a lot of symbols around this instrument About China.

　　古琴一般长约三尺六寸五（约120—125公分），象征一年三百六十五天（一说象周天365度）。一般宽约六寸（20公分左右）。一般厚约二寸（6公分左右）。琴体下部扁平，上部呈弧形凸起，分别象征天地。整体形状依凤身形而制成，其全身与凤身相应（也可说与人身相应），有头、颈、肩、腰、尾、足。

　　Guqin’s measurement line is 3 feet 65 inches representing the 365 days in a year. The top part is round representing the sky. The bottom part is flat, representing the earth. The whole body of the Guqin correspond the body of phoenix which is a bird of wonder, also the body of Guqin looks like the human body, with head, neck, shoulder, waist and feet etc.

　　自魏晋时古琴的表面便设置了十三个琴徽。 即琴弦外侧镶嵌了十三个用贝壳或者金、银、玉石、珍珠做成点，称作“徽”，表明泛音位置，提示按弦。十三徽分别象征十二月，而居中最大之徽代表君象征闰月。

　　There are 13 stars/markers representing the 13 month of Chinese lunar year. The stars/markers are filled in the Guqin with shells or gold, silver, jade, pearl make point, called the "Hui” （emblem） to indicate the sound position. The biggest Hui （star/marker） representing the lunar month.

　　古琴最初只有五根弦，内合五行，金、木、水、火、土；外合五音，宫、商、角、征、羽。后来文王囚于羑里，思念其子伯邑考，加弦一根，是为文弦；武王伐纣，加弦一根，是为武弦。合称文武七弦琴。

　　There are 7 strings in of Guqin. The first 5 in pentatonic scale representing 5 elements Metal, wood, water, fire and the earth. The 6 string was added by King Wen when his son was died. So the 6 string is sorrowful. The 7 string was added by King Wu when he encourage his soldiers go to the war.

　　古琴有三种音色：泛音、散音和按音，泛音法天，散音法地，按音法人，分别象征天、地、人之和合。

　　The Guqin produce the most diligent and subtle tones. There are 3 category sounds produced by the Guqin. Harmonics is representing the sound from the Heaven. Open Strings is representing the sound from the earth. Stopped string is representing the Human Beings.

　　下图是古琴结构示意图，双语对照 。