YANGQIN'S LOCALIZATION PROCESS IN CHINA

Abstract

This study aims to study the development and localization process of the yangqin. Through a multi-method approach combining literature review, interviews, and field observation, this research investigates how this foreign instrument was transformed into an integral component of Chinese national music. The findings reveal that the yangqin's localization represents a paradigm of aesthetic-driven ontological reconstruction. Key mechanisms include structural modifications for tonal adaptation, the invention of performance techniques such as "rolling tone" and "trembling bamboo" to embody Chinese aesthetic principles, the emergence of distinct regional schools, and the symbolic renaming that solidified its Chinese identity. The study demonstrates that successful cultural integration requires not only technical adaptation but, more importantly, aesthetic innovation and institutional support. These findings offer valuable insights into cross-cultural musical exchange and contribute to the theoretical framework of cultural adaptation.