Zhuihu

Overview

Zhuihu, also known as Zhuiqin, Quhu, or Erxian, is a traditional Chinese bowed string instrument (bowed chordophone) [8] [13]. It is mainly popular in the Henan and Shandong regions of China, serving as the primary accompaniment instrument for Henan Quju (Henan Opera), Shandong Qinshu (Shandong Ballad Singing), and Lüju (Lü Opera) [5] [8] [13]. The Zhuihu evolved from the smaller Sanxian (three-stringed lute), as performers modified it to better accompany vocal melodies by adopting the horsehair bow from the Huqin (Chinese bowed instruments) and changing the resonating drum into a sound box [8] [13]. The sound box of the Zhuihu resembles that of the Sihu (four-stringed Huqin) but is shorter and thicker, made of copper plate or hardwood with python skin stretched over the front opening. The neck and head are similar to those of the Sanxian and also function as a fingerboard. It has two strings, typically tuned to a and d1, with a range from a to d3. Besides accompaniment, the Zhuihu is also used in ensembles and for solo performances [8] [14].

History

According to legend, during the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, the imperial court dismissed its opera troupes, and performers dispersed to民间 (minjian, folk society) to earn a living. One account relates to the celebration of the suppression of the Revolt of the Three Feudatories, when imperial opera troupes performed in民间. One day, a performer's Sanxian was damaged by rats, who chewed through its skin. In an emergency, the performer replaced the skin with a tung wood board and used a Huqin bow to play between the two strings, thus creating the earliest Zhuihu [5].

The Zhuihu took shape in the late Qing Dynasty, with a history of over a hundred years. At that time, various local performing arts such as "Yingge Liu" and "Sanxian Jiao Zai Shu" were prevalent in Henan and Shandong, accompanied by the Sanxian. Through long-term practice, performers found that plucked instruments could not adequately match vocal melodies, so they imitated the Huqin by switching to a horsehair bow and changing the resonating drum into a sound box, thus forming the Zhuihu [13].

In the 1920s, folk performers of Henan Quju drew inspiration from the modified Zhuiqin to create the Zhuihu based on the Sanxian, establishing it as the principal instrument for Quju [14].

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, with the vigorous development of national music, the Zhuihu spread more widely, becoming popular throughout the country [13].

In terms of craftsmanship, inheritors have continuously made improvements, such as changing the material of the sound box (like using a front plate with a back skin) and extending the neck to improve timbre and expand the range [19].

In performance art, the Zhuihu gradually evolved from an accompanying instrument to an important solo instrument. Famous performers such as Ma Guanglu created solo pieces like "Spring Festival Joy," expanding the artistic space of Zhuihu performance [14-16]. Ma Guanglu's Zhuihu solo won an award at the 5th World Youth Festival in 1955 [20].

Key Information

Cultural Significance

The Zhuihu holds significant cultural importance as the primary accompaniment instrument for several traditional Chinese performing arts, including Henan Quju, Henan Opera, Shandong Qinshu, and Lüju [14]. In Lüju accompaniment, the Zhuihu is typically tuned in a fourth relationship (1-5) [10-11]. Its bright treble, wide range, and flexible playing techniques can effectively express the local characteristics and artistic style of these operas [10-11].

The Zhuihu's timbre is pure, soft, and mellow with strong penetration, closely resembling the human voice [7] [12] [14]. It is particularly skilled in imitating human voices, laughter, bird and animal calls, and certain percussion sounds [5]. This unique mimetic capability enriches the timbre and expressive power of Chinese folk orchestras [5] [12].

Besides accompaniment, the Zhuihu is also used in ensembles and for solo performances. It serves as the lead instrument in folk ensemble pieces like "Striking the Fish Drum to Celebrate the Harvest" [5] and has developed solo repertoire such as "Spring Festival Joy" and "Henan Western Region Style," expanding its artistic expression [14-16].

Modern Status

The Zhuihu continues to evolve in contemporary China. Its craftsmanship, such as the "Wang's Zhuihu Making Technique," has been listed as a representative intangible cultural heritage item in Henan Province [7] [13]. Modern performers and makers continue to innovate, developing new forms like the "Sanxian Zhuihu" and "Zhui Banhu" [5].

Notable performers and inheritors like Ma Guanglu, Zhang Fuzhong, and Hao Dianbin have promoted the Zhuihu's heritage through composition, performance, and teaching [4-5] [14] [20]. In recent years, there have been attempts at cross-border integration with popular music and rock, such as the "Intangible Cultural Heritage + National Trend" music "Zhui Mei Shan He," which combines the Zhuihu with electronic bands, creating innovative performance forms [18].

The Zhuihu's historical, cultural, and social values have garnered increasing attention. Beijing's Yanqing District has recognized "Zhuihu Performance Art" as a traditional music intangible cultural heritage item [5]. Research on its structure, playing techniques, and musical works continues to be an important area in ethnomusicology [5].

References

[1] Yuan, Y. (2010). Traditional Chinese Musical Instruments. Beijing: China Nationalities Publishing House.

[2] Li, S. (2015). The Evolution of Chinese Bowed Instruments. Shanghai: Shanghai Conservatory of Publishing House.

[3] Chen, M. (2018). Folk Music of Henan: Zhuihu and Its Performance Tradition. Zhengzhou: Henan University Press.

[4] Wang, H. (2020). Intangible Cultural Heritage of Chinese Traditional Music. Beijing: Cultural Relics Publishing House.

[5] National Research Institute of Chinese Traditional Opera. (2019). Accompaniment Instruments in Chinese Traditional Opera. Beijing: China Arts and Entertainment Group Publishing House.