"Da Sheng Yi Yin" Guqin
The guqin, also called the seven-stringed zither, is a traditional Chinese musical instrument. The oldest guqin existing today can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty.
This one, dating back to the mid-Tang Dynasty, derived its name from four Chinese characters "大圣遗音" in cursive script on its body, pronounced as "Da Sheng Yi Yin", literally meaning "Musical Legacy of the Sage".
The surface of the guqin, made of paulownia wood, resembles a bow, painted with chestnut-colored lacquer, with black in between. Some parts were slightly repaired with vermilion lacquer.
The round hole and the oblong hole on the back were designed for sound diffusion, which are called longchi (dragon's pond) and fengzhao (phoenix's pool), respectively. The guqin also carries inscriptions that translate to "As the autumn wind blows in the giant gully and the moon is reflected on the cold river, the melodic sound of the guqin breaks the silence".
This musical instrument was formerly stored in the southern warehouse in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, where the emperor stored his treasures.
After the last emperor Puyi moved out of the Forbidden City, the committee responsible for handling the aftermath of the Qing court discovered that after years of neglect, the roof of the southern warehouse was leaking on rainy days. For this reason, a layer of scale condensed on the surface of the guqin, making it dilapidated and almost unfunctional.
In 1947, the Palace Museum invited famous guqin expert Guan Pinghu to repair it. After months of efforts, the instrument was restored. When Guan tried it after the repair, the guqin produced a clear and melodious sound.
The ancient Chinese believed that an excellent guqin had "nine virtues"—being unique, ancient, clear, smooth, tranquil, harmonious, balanced, pure, and fragrant. These qualities together provide a perfect, pleasing auditory experience. However, few had all nine virtues. The "Da Sheng Yi Yin" guqin stands out among its counterparts for owning all of them.
“大圣遗音”琴
古琴又称七弦琴，是中国传统乐器之一。现存传世最早的古琴流传自唐代。
“大圣遗音”琴是中唐时期古琴。桐木做成，琴面如弓，栗壳色漆，间有黑色，局部略有朱漆修补。背面圆孔和扁长圆孔，用于散音，叫作龙池、凤沼。此面还刻有草书“大圣遗音”，以及铭文“巨壑迎秋，寒江印月。万籁悠悠，孤桐飒裂”。
此琴原藏于皇帝的珍品库养心殿南库。溥仪出宫后，清室善后委员会发现因南库年久失修漏雨，琴面上凝结了一层水锈，琴色灰白，破败不堪。直至1947年，故宫博物院邀请著名古琴家管平湖前来修理数月后，“大圣遗音”琴才恢复原有神采。管平湖将琴修好后曾试弹，琴音清脆松透，音质极佳。
古人认为最好的琴音具有九德，即奇、古、透、润、静、圆、匀、清、芳九个特点，给人完美悦耳的听觉享受。具备“九德”的琴少有，但“大圣遗音”琴“九德”兼具，是传世古琴中的至品。
