The Linglong Yu– A Rare Southern Song Dynasty Guqin from the Qing Imperial Collection

The Linglong Yu is a guqin dating back to the Southern Song Dynasty and was once part of the Qing imperial collection. It belongs to a variant form of the Zhongni style. With a total length of 118.4 cm, the instrument features gracefully flowing lines that preserve the traditional antiquity of the guqin while incorporating innovative design elements. Linglong Yu reflects the unique aesthetics and exceptional craftsmanship of Southern Song Dynasty qin-making.

The body of the qin is made of Paulownia, with a relatively thick top panel and a somewhat small inner sound chamber, giving it a distinctive structural character. The shape of its sound pools is also unusual, and pieces of wood are affixed to the resonance-receiving areas. These details harmonize with the overall unique form of the instrument, showcasing the ingenuity and meticulous care of Southern Song artisans at every turn.

The back of the qin is equally remarkable. Above the sound pool, the three semi-cursive characters "Linglong Yu" are carved—this is the instrument’s name. On the left and right sides, a lyrico-cursive inscription reads, in essence, that the wood for this qin is of extraordinary origin, having grown in a place blessed with sublime natural beauty. The sound of this qin is wonderfully exquisite, as clear and far-reaching as a phoenix singing beneath an autumn moon, and as elegantly moving as a celestial crane dancing on a jade terrace—evoking a deeply poetic resonance.