Curating Guzheng Brands

The reel is in Mandarin, but the main message is about how rare Made-in-Japan guzhengs truly are. Some stencil guzheng brands often make exaggerated claims—such as being Made-in-Japan—while also offering a wide range of products like partially hollowed-out guzhengs or zhemian guzhengs. In reality, Japanese guzhengs are extremely rare and are almost always fully hollowed out, as the zhemian guzheng was invented in China. (Click here if you don’t know what a fully hollowed-out guzheng is.) So, the idea that zhemian models are made in Japan is highly questionable. Some brands are not upfront or honest about their products. Many of these tend to be stencil brands, focused more on mass production than on building a reputable, long-standing name. These brands often don’t even participate in music fairs. Now, why is the “Made-in-Japan” claim so hard to believe? Simply put, Japanese products are usually priced much higher than their Chinese counterparts due to higher labor costs and a lack of economies of scale. Additionally, companies that truly make guzhengs in Japan must have close ties to Japanese suppliers and makers. A sure tell-tale sign of a guzheng being made in Japan is the use of Japanese paulownia wood. This wood has a very distinct grain pattern that cannot be easily replicated. (See the beautiful IG reel below) If a guzheng doesn’t exhibit these unique grain patterns, it’s likely not made in Japan. Don’t be misled by stores that display one or two such pieces—this is not proof that all their guzhengs are Japanese-made. To truthfully claim that a guzheng is “Made in Japan,” a workshop must consistently possess and use Japanese paulownia wood in their production. Claiming that a zhemian guzheng is made in Japan often sounds more like a marketing scam meant to justify a higher price. One truly Japanese-made brand is Xuan Guang. At every major instrument fair, they showcase their latest Japanese paulownia wood guzhengs, leaving everyone in awe. Each of their guzhengs typically starts at USD 15,000. This high price is one reason many other brands attempt to imitate them, trying to achieve similar markups on their own instruments. However, if you’re simply looking for a high-quality, fully hollowed-out guzheng that sounds beautiful—without all the fanfare—consider the Mujiuchen guzheng. These instruments are 100% made in their own factories in China using Chinese paulownia wood. Visit our website to learn more: https://eight-tones.store/mujiuchen/ Mujiuchen guzhengs embody a traditional Chinese tone and are very popular in China. They are also a respected brand that participates in major instrument fairs—their booth is usually right next to Xuan Guang and Xuan Zhong.