String Instrument), also known as Zhuiqin or Zhuizi, is
altered from Sanxian (a three-stringed musical instrument), can be used
to perform solo and tutti. Since Zhuihu has a wide diapason, a soft sound
and relatively high sound volume, performers can use it to imitate the voice of
human and animals.
There is one legend about the origin
of Zhuihu. In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Emperor Kangxi forbad all the
opera performances in the Forbidden City and artists had to earn a living on the
street. One day, an artist's Sanxian was bitten by mice and the covering
leather of the sound box got a hole in it. In order not to miss the performance,
the artist had to use a thin wooden piece to replace the leather and used a bow
from Huqin (two-stringed Chinese violin) to play the Sanxian. This
musical instrument, that can not only play music but also imitate human voice,
was later called Zhuihu.