Suwen Guqin by Shanghai Yitong Cultural Communication Co.,Ltd. is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Tuzo ya Shaba ya A' Design Award in Usanifu wa Ala za Muziki Competition Category.
ShabaAla ya Muziki· 2026
Suwen Guqin
by Shanghai Yitong Cultural Communication Co.,Ltd.
Client: Shanghai Yitong Cultural Communucation Co.,Ltd.
Tuzo ya Shaba ya A' Design Award Winner in Ala ya Muziki Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #180049The Design
About Suwen Guqin
Suwen ni guqin, ala ya muziki ya jadi ya Kichina yenye nyuzi, iliyobuniwa upya kwa ajili ya uchezaji wa kisasa. Umbo lake linafuata mfano wa qin ya enzi ya nasaba ya Tang inayohifadhiwa katika Hekalu la Horyuji. Ubao wa sauti umetengenezwa kwa mti wa mwerezi au paulownia uliokomaa, na sehemu ya nyuma imetengenezwa kwa mti wa catalpa. Tabaka la msingi linachanganya majivu ya pembe za kulungu na lakiri ghafi. Uwazi wa ndani uliobuniwa kwa uhandisi wa akustika unaipa mwili huu mdogo sauti na kiwango cha sauti cha ala ya ukubwa kamili. Umaliziaji wa lakiri wenye mwonekano usiong'aa na wenye nakshi ya asili ya mbao huunda uso mkavu usioteleza. Kishikizo cha nyuzi kilichopanuliwa katika sehemu ya mkia hurahisisha mwendo wa vidole kwa wanaoanza na kwa wachezaji wenye mikono midogo.
The Recognition
About the Tuzo ya Shaba ya A' Design Award
Suwen Guqin ni mshindi wa Tuzo ya Shaba ya A' Design Award, utambuzi wenye heshima kubwa unaotolewa kwa miundo bora inayotofautishwa kwa ubunifu, ustadi na busara. Washindi wa Shaba ni kazi za ufundi mwingi na bunifu ya kushangaza zinazothibitisha uzoefu mpana, mawazo na ustadi wa wabunifu wao. Suwen Guqin inatarajiwa kuwa kitu kinachothaminiwa sana, kupendwa na kuenziwa, ambacho ni cha kitaalamu na bunifu kwa kiasi kikubwa. Muundo huu ulioshinda Tuzo ya Shaba ya A' Design Award unajumuisha mbinu bora katika sanaa, sayansi, usanifu na teknolojia, na ni bora kwa umakini wake kwa undani. Suwen Guqin hutosheleza mahitaji kwa uzuri, hugusa hamu, huvutia hisia na kuvutia udadisi.
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
Sponsored
Explore Beyond Designers.org
Discover products, services and opportunities from our advertising partners.
More to Explore
Related Designs
Explore more award-winning designs from the same category, selected by merit.
