ABSTRACT
The guqin is a Chinese zither that has now become a national symbol in the country. Yet by the early 20th century, there were hardly any qin players left in China, while the nation’s Cultural Revolution led to an even greater demise of the instrument. The political opening of the country inspired a search for cultural identity, leading to the revival of many traditional practices. The guqin, which is relatively easy to play, became a focus for intense amateur musicking in many parts of China. This chapter documents this amateur universe in the provincial city of Lanzhou, showing how local musicians have configured the local guqin scene in terms of local concerns and repertoires.
