The emblem of the piano plays the role of marking the phoneme - it is the marker of the position of the string and the node of the overtone when the sound is played. It is generally made of jade, gold, luotian, etc., and is inlaid on the surface of the piano. Guqin has thirteen emblems, from Yueshan to Longgu (from the head to the tail) of the first emblem, the second emblem... until the thirteenth emblem at the tail of the qin.

Because the length of the guqin (for example, the zither is only 70 to 90 centimeters) is not fixed, the distance between the emblems is also not fixed. The emblem is based on the principle of three points of profit and loss. Its specific delineation method is as follows:

Seven emblems are at one-half of the effective chord length (dichotomy)

Six emblems and eight emblems are at two-fifths of the effective string length (rule of fifths)

The five and nine emblems are at one-third of the effective chord length (rule of thirds)

Four emblems and ten emblems are at a quarter of the effective chord length (dichotomy)

Three emblems and eleven emblems are at one-fifth of the effective chord length (rule of quintiles)

Two emblems and twelve emblems are at one-sixth of the effective chord length (rule of fifths)

The first emblem and the thirteen emblems are at one-eighth of the effective string length

The appearance of the qin emblem promotes the establishment of the Guqin shape, which makes the development of Guqin music more perfect and plays a vital role in the development of rhythm. As for when the guqin emblem came into being, there is no accurate historical record so far.

Mr. Li Chunyi recorded by exploring the famous poem "Seven Hair" by Meicheng (? ~ 140 BC) in the Western Han Dynasty: the qin is made with the barrel of the dragon gate, the string is made with the silk of the wild cocoon, and "the nine widow's Er is the appointment" It is pointed out that the emblem of the qin was produced in the first half of the second century BC, about a little later in the early Western Han Dynasty. Mr. Li believes that, from the context of "Seven Hair", the covenant made with Er was originally the center of the target, which is equivalent to the emblem here. If this theory is true, the early emblem should appear in the latter part of the early Western Han Dynasty.

Mr. Li pointed out more clearly that the emblem of the guqin had already been produced at this time, but there was a lot of information about the emblem of the guqin through the exploration of the phrase "The emblem is the jade of Zhongshan" recorded in the "Qin Fu" of Jin Jikang (AD 223~262). The number is still unknown. "There are more than ten obvious dot-shaped emblems on the outside", this is the image of the emblem on the surface of the qin played by Ji Kang and Rong Qiqi in the murals "Seven Sages in the Bamboo Forest" in the tombs of Qi and Liang in the Southern Dynasties. The earliest image of Guqin with emblem seen so far.

The full box body and the basic shape of the thirteen emblems have been produced. Therefore, Mr. Li believes that the guqin emblem was produced in the Eastern Jin Dynasty or a little earlier, and the lower limit is no later than the early year of the Southern Qi Dynasty, that is, the 90s of the fifth century AD.

Mr. Feng Jiexuan described the process of making the qin in the painting in detail by exploring the painting of Gu Xingzhi (about 344-405 AD), a great painter of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, and described the qin-making process in the painting at that time: "In the middle of the picture, on the right side of the picture, a person is sitting on the ground, The finished qin is placed between the legs, the head is down, the qin face is outward, the left hand supports, and the right hand seems to be auditioning. The body has a neck but no waist. From this, it can be inferred that the emblem of the guqin has been produced in the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

The thirteen emblems of the guqin symbolize the thirteen months of the year, and the symbolic meaning of each emblem is:

An emblem name is too clustered. Should be the first month law. Its sound is in the corner.

Two emblem name folder clock. Should be February law. Its sound is in the corner.

The three emblems are named Gu Xi. Should be March law. Its sound is in the palace.

The four emblems are named Zhonglu. Should be April law. Its sound is in the sign.

The five emblems are named Ruibin. May law should be. Its sound is in the sign.

The six emblems are named Lin Zhong. Should be June law. Its sound is in the palace.

The seven emblems are the king. Centered to resemble the leap.

The eight emblems are named Yi Ze. Should be July law. Its sound is in business.

The nine emblems are named Nanlu. Should be August law. Its sound is in business.

The ten emblems have no shot. Should be September law. Its sound is in the palace.

The eleven emblem name should be bell. Should be October law. Its sound is in the feather.

The twelve emblems are named Huang Zhong. Should be November law. Its sound is in the feather.

The thirteen emblems are named Tailu. Should be December law. Its sound is in the palace.

Huangzhong, Taicu, Guxi, Ruibin, Yize, and Wushe are the six yangs.

Tailu, Jiazhong, Zhonglu, Linzhong, Nanlu and Yingzhong are the six yin.

——"Wuzhizhai piano score"