Who invented the gu zheng?

Answer 1

I'm not sure who invented it, but legend says that in Ancient China, their was an instrument called the Se (extinct instrument), and each time the emperor listened to it's music, he got sadder and sadder, so he ordered the instrument destroyed. So a Man took an axe and cut the Se (25 stringed instrument) in half and thus the Zheng or Guzheng was born. One Zheng with 12 strings, and the other with 13 strings ( 13 plus 12 equals 25). Another legend says that a Man turned old and had two young daughters (other texts say two sons) who where skilled in the Se, they allways fought over it, so the father took an axe and split the Se and the Zheng was Born. Hope this helped:)