The zhongruan (Chinese: 中阮; pinyin: zhōngruǎn; lit. "tenor ruan") is a Chinese plucked string instrument. It has a straight neck with 24 frets on the fingerboard and 4 strings. The zhongruan is typically played using a plectrum, which is a small tool similar to a guitar pick. It can also be played with the fingers, specifically the index finger and thumb, often with acrylic nails, a method similar to how the pipa (琵琶) is played. The zhongruan is a tenor (medium) instrument in the ruan (阮) family. In ancient China, the ruan was called Qin pipa (秦琵琶) or Ruan xian (阮咸). Today, the ruan comes in different sizes, and the zhongruan is the medium-sized version.

Use

The usual tuning of the zhongruan is G2, D3, G3, D4. It can also be tuned as G2, D3, A3, E4, or A2, D3, D3, D4, depending on the needs of the music. The zhongruan has a smooth and full sound, so it is often used as the main instrument in small groups of musicians and to support other instruments in a Chinese orchestra. It can also be played alone.

Construction

A high-quality zhongruan is usually made from rosewood. For the best sound and appearance, it is made from red sandalwood because this wood has a beautiful grain, a unique purple color, and is very hard and rare. A zhongruan made from red sandalwood is heavier and more expensive than one made from other woods.

The lute head is a decorative part. Common designs include ruyi (a symbol of good fortune), peony (a flower), and dragon. These decorations are often made of plastic or ivory.

Below the lute head is the pegbox, which holds the tuning pegs that secure the strings. Tuning pegs are usually made of wood or buffalo horn. Today, many zhongruans use tuning machine heads instead of a pegbox because they make tuning easier. Some makers still use traditional pegboxes but add fine tuners at the tailpiece.

In the past, strings were made of silk. The number of silk strands determined the string’s thickness. Modern zhongruans use metal-wound polymer strings.

A nut is placed between the pegbox and the neck to hold the strings in place. It is often made of plastic, buffalo bone, or ivory.

The neck connects the lute head to the body. It includes a fingerboard and 24 frets. Frets are usually made of plastic, buffalo bone, wood, or metal (such as copper). In high-quality zhongruans, frets are made from a mix of plastic and copper or wood and copper, with the metal part placed on top of each fret. This combination helps the frets last longer during use.

The body of the zhongruan is made from a combination of front, back, and side boards. Two sound holes on the front board allow sound to escape. Common shapes for these sound holes include circles, moons, S-shapes, and birds.

At the bottom of the body, a bridge holds the strings and transfers their vibrations.

At the very bottom of the body is the tailpiece, which anchors the strings.

Note that the frets on all Chinese lutes are high, so the fingers never touch the body. This is different from Western lutes. This design allows for better control over the sound and pitch but makes playing chords more challenging.

Some Zhongruan music pieces

• Two Zhongruan players from the NENU Folkloric Orchestra performed in a concert in Torrent, Land of Valencia. 《滿江紅》 The River All Red (zhongruan concerto)
• 《雲南回憶》 Reminiscences of Yunnan (zhongruan concerto)
• 《睡蓮》 Water Lily (zhongruan solo)
• 《絲路駝鈴》 Camel Bells of the Silk Road (zhongruan solo)
• 《孤芳自賞》 Narcissistic (zhongruan solo)
• 《火把節之夜》 The Night of the Torch Festival (zhongruan solo)
• 《倒垂簾》 The Turned Over Curtain (zhongruan solo)
• 《中阮摇滚》, also named 《男人的刀》 Zhong Ruan Rock N' Roll (zhongruan solo)
• 《山歌》 Folk Song (zhongruan solo)
• 《天地之間》 Between the Sky and the Land (zhongruan duet)

Composers and performers

• Zhang Si'an (Djang San), inventor of the electric zhongruan
• Jan Linton, creates CDs in Western and Chinese styles
• Liu Bo
• Shen Fei
• Dabby Pan (Pan Yi Tong)
• Wu Qiang
• Zhang Ronghui (Singapore Chinese Orchestra)
• Ruan Shichun
• Tan Su-Min (Clara)
• Rao Si-Ming (Jonathan)
• Wei Wei
• Miao Xiaoyun, plays tenor and bass ruan and pipa
• Liu Xing
• Zhang Xinhua
• Xu Yang
• Lo Chai Xia (Lo Cai Sha)
• Wei Yuru

• Zhang Si'an (Djang San), inventor of the electric zhongruan
• Tommy Su Handa (Su Han Da)
• Lin Jiliang
• Wu Junsheng
• Liu Xing
• Ning Yong
• Wang Zhongbing