素材來源：鹹熙永築、崖居山房等
本文轉自：譯匠
古琴，又稱瑤琴、玉琴、絲桐和七弦琴，是中國的傳統樂器，至少有三千年歷史。古籍記載伏羲作琴，又有神農作琴、黃帝造琴、唐堯造琴等傳說；舜定琴為五弦，文王增一弦，武王伐紂又增一弦為七弦；可見古琴文化的源遠流長，博大精深。
古琴是中華文化中地位最崇高的樂器，自古「琴」為其特指，20世紀20年代為與鋼琴區分改稱古琴。琴有「士無故不撤琴瑟」和「左琴右書」之說。位列中國傳統文化四藝「琴棋書畫」之首，被視為高雅的代表，亦為文人吟唱時的伴奏樂器，自古以來一直是許多文人必備的知識和必修的科目。伯牙、鍾子期以「高山流水」而成知音的故事流傳至今；琴臺被視為友誼的象徵。大量詩詞文賦中有琴的身影。
今天為小夥伴詳解一下古琴，中英文對照哦。
The Guqin
古琴
Guqin, It is a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument of the zither family with a history of more than 3000 years. The prefix "gu-" (meaning "ancient") was later added for clarification. It can also be called qixianqin (lit. "seven-stringed instrument").
古琴，又稱中國七弦琴，為中國最古老的彈撥樂器之一, 有文字可考的歷史有三千餘年。
Guqin has traditionally been favored by scholars and literati as an instrument of great subtlety and refinement. Guqin has always been viewed as the first place among the four Chinese high culture activities such as Guqin, Chess, calligraphy and painting.
在中國古代，「琴、棋、書、畫」歷來被視為文人雅士修身養性的必由之徑。古琴因其清、和、淡、雅的音樂品格寄寓了文人風凌傲骨、超凡脫俗的處世心態，而在音樂、棋術、書法、繪畫中居於首位。
Symbolism in the Guqin
古琴結構與文化象徵
There are a lot of symbols around this instrument.
在古琴中我們可以找到許多中國傳統文化的元素。
Guqin’s measurement line is 3 feet 65 inches representing the 365 days in a year. The top part is round representing the sky. The bottom part is flat, representing the earth. The whole body of the Guqin correspond the body of phoenix which is a bird of wonder, also the body of Guqin looks like the human body, with head, neck, shoulder, waist and feet etc.
古琴一般長約三尺六寸五（約120—125公分），象徵一年三百六十五天（一說象周天365度）。一般寬約六寸（20公分左右）。一般厚約二寸（6公分左右）。琴體下部扁平，上部呈弧形凸起，分別象徵天地。整體形狀依鳳身形而製成，其全身與鳳身相應（也可說與人身相應），有頭、頸、肩、腰、尾、足。
There are 13 stars/markers representing the 13 month of Chinese lunar year. The stars/markers are filled in the Guqin with shells or gold, silver, jade, pearl make point, called the "Hui」 (emblem) to indicate the sound position. The biggest Hui (star/marker) representing the lunar month.
自魏晉時古琴的表面便設置了十三個琴徽. 即琴弦外側鑲嵌了十三個用貝殼或者金、銀、玉石、珍珠做成點，稱作「徽」，表明泛音位置，提示按弦。十三徽分別象徵十二月，而居中最大之徽代表君象徵閏月。
There are 7 strings in of Guqin. The first 5 in pentatonic scale representing 5 elements Metal, wood, water, fire and the earth. The 6 string was added by King Wen when his son was died. So the 6 string is sorrowful. The 7 string was added by King Wu when he encourage his soldiers go to the war. So the 7 string is very strong.
古琴最初只有五根弦，內合五行，金、木、水、火、土；外合五音，宮、商、角、徵、羽。後來文王囚於羑裡，思念其子伯邑考，加弦一根，是為文弦；武王伐紂，加弦一根，是為武弦。合稱文武七弦琴。
The Guqin produce the most diligent and subtle tones. There are 3 category sounds produced by the Guqin. Harmonics is representing the sound from the Heaven. Open Strings is representing the sound from the earth. Stopped string is representing the Human Beings.
古琴有三種音色：泛音、散音和按音，泛音法天，散音法地，按音法人，分別象徵天、地、人之和合。
下圖是古琴結構示意圖，雙語對照哦。
最後再來欣賞欣賞與古琴有關的畫作。
梅下橫琴圖 明 杜堇 上海博物館
宮中圖 明 杜堇
古賢詩意圖 明 杜堇
黃慎 清 揚州八怪之一
賞琴圖 黃慎
明 陳洪綬
聽琴圖 明 陳洪綬
聽琴圖 張路 德國柏林東亞美術館藏
聽琴圖 宋 趙佶
武陵春圖 明 吳偉
月下撫琴圖 明 昇州道士
平沙落雁圖 傅抱石 現代