The seeds of inspiration fall under the cherry blossom tree,
The softness of falling cherry blossoms and the splendor of brocade,
Intertwined into the background of "Light Sakura Splendid".
"Light Sakura Splendid" uses unique color visual expression to show the modern charm of oriental art. Every detail has been carefully designed to present a harmonious and unified visual beauty.
Japanese paulownia grows in cold climates and has a slower growth rate than its Southeast Asian counterparts. As such, Japanese paulownia wood has more compact tree rings which, when used to make guzhengs, consistently results in a beautifully layered, well rounded sound. This is a gift from Nature that each and every Xuan Guang guzheng is blessed with.
Wood grain is yet another feature that breathes life into Xuan Guang. Tree rings are the testimony of a tree’s growth, year after year. They evolve slowly into a pattern that is unique to the tree as it ages, which is why every Xuan Guang guzheng is one-of-a-kind.
The use of top grade 40 year-old Japanese paulownia wood is part of our premium configuration for Xuan Guang. Due to the slow growth rate of Japanese paulownia, it takes at least 40 years for the tree to grow before its wood becomes suitable as material for guzheng production.
Top grade 40 year-old Japanese paulownia wood is typically located on the outer rim of the tree trunk. The passage of time leaves precious traces on this part of the wood, as can be seen in its ultra fine, dense wood grain. The all-natural wood grain takes the shape of water ripples and undulating mountains to give the sound extra finesse and greater penetrating power that moves people to the core.
This specially formulated "Sakura Mist Powder" has been adjusted for countless times to show just the right saturation - like white micro-powder, as warm and moist as jade.
The decoration part is made of specially made fabric using the traditional Japanese "Yuzen dyeing" process, which outlines the artistic conception of the flower room with unique layers.
The looming dark patterns of cherry blossoms are like watching flowers through the fog; the colorful flowers blooming like brocade, showing rich three-dimensional layers under the light.
The front bridge is carved out of an integral piece of Indian red sandalwood. Its flawless arc is the result of numerous adjustments by the craftsman such that the tenon fits perfectly on the zheng body to facilitate optimal sound projection.
Mounting the fringe by tenon gives the zheng body a more three-dimensional, classy look. Yet, the process is more painstaking than it seems. To ensure the wood has a smooth and lustrous surface, it needs to be polished manually over and over again, and no gap should be left between the tenon joints so as to avoid any disruption to the sound transmission. The ultimate destination of this process is beauty in both form and substance without coming across as trying too hard, and this happens to be one of the signature traits of Xuan Guang guzhengs, whose one-of-a-kind beauty can hardly be replicated.
The XuanGuang bridge is made of old material big red acid branch, and the zither maker crafts it by hand according to the body of the instrument. The zither made of old material big red acid branch is carefully crafted by hand, following the wood grain to create each piece, greatly improving the stability and uniformity of the zither, making the sound smooth and progressing layer by layer. The zither of Glowing Pillar is highly durable and does not easily wear out during repeated playing, enhancing the stability of the sound and preventing misalignment while playing. Such meticulous selection and intricate production process mean that the production cost of Glowing Pillar zither is several times higher than that of ordinary zithers, but in order to elevate the sound of the zither, we spare no expense.
The headstock box incorporates the traditional Japanese Hakone marquetry technique, using all-natural wood to create geometric patterns. The wood is then cut into "seeds" and embedded into the box of the headstock. Hakone marquetry has been passed down in the Hakone region since the Edo period and was designated as a traditional Japanese woodworking craft by the Japanese authorities in 1984. Unfortunately, the number of people who possess this skill has been decreasing, making each piece that utilizes Hakone marquetry technique even more precious.
The layers of flowers are like a grand visual symphony, each flower tells a different story, and each leaf sings a unique rhythm. Complex but not chaotic, flashy but not vulgar, this is a unique expression of oriental aesthetics.
The string hole is made of 18K gold, which is durable and not easy to fade.
The interior of the body is carved in a triangular pattern, a design meticulously calculated and crafted. It is important to note that the interior of the body is not flat, but rather curved. In this case, handling the triangle carving not only takes into account the resonance of the body, but also considers the transmission of sound during playing, striving to give the sound more depth. The lingering resonance of the guzheng with the triangle carving structure is longer and more delicate compared to the pure straight grain design, encompassing its surroundings.
