Suwen Guqin by Shanghai Yitong Cultural Communication Co.,Ltd.

Suwen Guqin by Shanghai Yitong Cultural Communication Co.,Ltd. is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Parahi in Hoahoa Taonga Puoro Competition Category.

ParahiTaonga Puoro· 2026

Suwen Guqin

by Shanghai Yitong Cultural Communication Co.,Ltd.

Client: Shanghai Yitong Cultural Communucation Co.,Ltd.

A' Design Award Parahi Winner in Taonga Puoro Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #180049

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Suwen Guqin

He guqin a Suwen, he taonga puoro aho tuku iho nō Haina, kua whakahoungia mō te whakatangi o ēnei rā. E whai ana te hanga i te qin o te whare rangatira o Tang e puritia ana ki te Temepara o Horyuji. Kua hangaia te papa oro ki te hita tawhito, ki te paulownia rānei, ā, ko te tuarā he katalpa. Ko te paparanga tūāpapa he whakaranu i te pungarehu haona tia me te rakau tākawa mata. Nā tētahi kōpū o roto i hangaia ā-oro nei, ka whai te tinana kūiti i te oro me te kaha o tētahi taonga puoro rahi katoa. Nā te whakaoti rakau tākawa kāhua mātotoru ka puta he mata maroke, kore paheke hoki. Ko te punga aho kua whakawhānuitia i te hiku ka whakamāmā i te nekehanga o ngā matimati mō te hunga tīmata me ngā kaiwhakatangi ringa iti ake.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Parahi

Ko Suwen Guqin te toa o te A' Design Award Parahi, he whakaaetanga tino whai mana e hoatu ana ki ngā hoahoa kōeke e tohua ana mā te auaha, te mahi mōhio me te whakaaro hōhonu. Ko ngā toa Parahi he mahi pukenga e rite ana, he auaha mīharo, e whakatūturu ana i te wheako nui, te whakaaro me te mōhio-ā-ringa o ā rātou kaihoahoa. E tūmanakohia ana ko Suwen Guqin he taonga whakanuia, whakamīharotia, aroha nui, he ngaio, he auaha hoki. Ko tēnei hoahoa i toa i te Parahi e whakauru ana i ngā tikanga pai rawa i te toi, te pūtaiao, te hoahoa me te hangarau, ā, he tino mīharo ki ngā taipitopito. Ka whakatutuki a Suwen Guqin i ngā hiahia, ka pā ki ngā hiahia, ka whakaoho i ngā kare-ā-roto, ā, ka kume i te pākiki.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: This product echoes the classical elegance of the Tang dynasty qin at Horyuji Temple and is reimagined for modern playing. Innovatively, its compact body produces rich, expressive sound that meets professional standards, without sacrificing portability. Its matte grain lacquer finish remains dry and non slip. Details like the widened string anchor at the tail and the tuning pegs honor classical aesthetics yet serve modern practicality. Altogether, this instrument is timeless yet made for today.
Dimensions & Packaging: 1100mm*150mm*45mm
Tags: based on the Tang dynasty qin at Horyuji Temple, matte grain lacquer finish, portable, acoustically optimized, performance grade sound quality, full sound presence in a compact body, widened string anchor at the tail, contemporary reinterpretation of traditional instruments
Production Technology: The soundboard is crafted from aged cedar or paulownia over one hundred years old, with catalpa for the back. The base layer blends deer antler ash and raw lacquer using ancient methods, contributing to a resonant, open tone with rich harmonics ideal for performance. Furthermore, a proprietary matte grain lacquer finish creates a dry, non slip surface that enhances finger glide across the strings. The lacquer is also environmentally friendly and excels in water resistance and enduring beauty.
Design Challenge: The challenge is balancing how professionals and the public see the guqin. Experts value strict adherence to the historical form, while most users favor practical improvements. To bridge this gap, every modern refinement, such as the size and lacquer finish, stays within Tang dynasty aesthetics. The look remains true to tradition, and with use, the instrument delivers the rich tone and volume rivaling a performance grade full size qin, fulfilling both cultural respect and functional progress.
Research: The design solves key problems in traditional guqin use. Full size models are hard to carry and difficult for beginners, while smaller qins lack volume and tonal depth. Glossy lacquer finishes are often slippery, and standard shapes suit smaller hands poorly. The design echoes classical charm of the Tang dynasty qin at Horyuji Temple, while using acoustical engineering to achieve the volume, sound projection, and nuanced tone of a performance grade qin, enhancing both practicality and comfort.
Inspiration: This instrument draws on three key inspirations. The name Suwen evokes the exchange between the player and the qin in the stillness of night, embodying inward reflection central to Eastern thought and forming the spiritual core of this instrument. Its shape follows the Tang dynasty qin at Horyuji Temple, preserving its serene dignity. Based on the insight that greater smoothness does not mean smoother play, the matte grain lacquer finish prevents slipping or sticking from hand perspiration.
Project Duration: The design and development of this qin lasted from September 2022 to August 2024 in Shanghai. It debuted in May 2025 at the Contemporary Masters Qin Making Exhibition of the 2025 Yueyang Guqin Art Festival.
Operation Flow: Thoughtful refinements fully enhance the playing experience. An acoustically engineered interior cavity delivers the tonal volume and richness of a performance grade full size qin within a compact body, not merely increased volume. A widened string anchor at the tail and optimized proportions make finger movement across the strings easier, especially for beginners and players with smaller hands. The matte grain lacquer finish provides a non slip surface, improving control during performance.
Team Members: Ding Liang