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Bianzhong

Of all these musical instruments, Bianqing and Bianzhong played the most important part in the performances.

It can be easily imagined that this Bianqing, or Chime Stone, was one of the earliest musical instruments in China. Chinese forefathers discovered that, when knocked around, rocks of different sizes produced musical sounds. Thus, chime stones of various dimensions were hung together to give off different notes.

Often accompanying the Bianqing, are the Bianzhong or Chime Bells. A bronze instrument, it heads the metal section under the eight categories of musical instruments.

Bianzhong is cast according to the 7-tone scale with 5 semitones in between, completing a well-integrated system of 12 tones. The full scale agrees with the western 7-tone scale in C major, and its range covers 5 octaves, just two fewer than the modern piano.

The director of the performance maintains that, despite this similarity, Chinese and Western music are two worlds apart in nature.

Zhang Zhaoyu, director of Summer Palace Bianzhong Art Troupe, said, "Compared with Western music, ancient Chinese music emphasizes gentility and its function to steer inner feelings in order to achieve emotional balance. Biangzhong represents the Yang, or positive, and Bianqing represents the Yin, or negative. Just as the name of "Dehe Garden" suggests, when these instruments are played, it's hoped that the audience can achieve inner peace."

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