The guqin 古琴 (or qin 琴) is an ancient seven-stringed Chinese zither and it is a quintessential exemplar of traditional Chinese cultural aesthetics and sensibilities. In the guqin tradition, wellbeing emerges from the cultivation and embodiment of core cultural values and a deliberate process of playing that unifies the body, mind, breath, and spirit. There is no Chinese equivalent of the English word “wellbeing” per se, yet key concepts such as xiu 修 (self-cultivation), qi 氣 (primordial energy), and he 和 (harmony, equilibrium) that are inherent in the guqin tradition may collectively be understood to convey a holistic sense of the intangible qualities of integrity, wholeness, longevity, and closeness to nature that “wellbeing” connotes. Thus, as I shall argue in this dissertation, the cultivation of wellbeing is at once the purpose and the outcome of guqin music and musical practice. The nationwide guqin revival in recent years has transformed the guqin from an elite, exclusive, and private art into a popular, tangible, and accessible culture that serves modern Chinese society broadly. It is undeniable that political propaganda, the Intangible Cultural Heritage program, and the market are all incentives to this revival. The key, intangible motivation, however, has much to do with the recognition that the guqin is conducive to wellbeing, which has become increasingly valued and elusive in the contemporary world of China. This dissertation explores how contemporary Chinese guqin practitioners harness capacities for wellbeing inherent in the ancient tradition of the guqin through a case study of the Longren Guqin Cultural Village located in Zhangzhou, Fujian Province. The research carried out at Longren shows that the intangible values immanent in traditional Chinese culture are still essential to modern guqin practitioners and their wellbeing. Key topics explored in this research include place, craftsmanship, musicianship, and listening in modern guqin poems.
