反撞reverse knock
Pinyin: fǎn zhuàng
Left hand, slidingThe reverse of zhuang: the left finger jabs quickly down toward the tail and returns at once to the home position.
How it is played
After the stopped note sounds, keep pressing and pull a short way down toward the tail nut, returning immediately: the opposite direction to zhuang. It must be quick; linger below and it becomes tui fu. Some handbooks instead write it as moving down to the next hui and knocking there (see below).
How it sounds
The sustained note is tugged downward and back, like a hesitation on the brink of vibrato.
Where sources disagree
A quick dip and return, or a knock at the hui below
- On the sound, pull back toward the tail and return quickly to the home position, as if about to vibrate but not; or as a small tui fu. Source: 《兰田馆琴谱》（据Guoqinwang, Guqin Da Cidian (Great Dictionary of the Guqin)所录原文）(opens in a new window)
- Like a small tui fu, but without letting the lower note sound clearly; the point is the hesitation. Source: Qinxue Chujin（据Guoqinwang, Guqin Da Cidian (Great Dictionary of the Guqin)所录原文）(opens in a new window)
- Pluck string seven at the ninth hui, move down to the tenth and knock once: this is fan zhuang. Source: 《蕉庵琴谱》（据Guoqinwang, Guqin Da Cidian (Great Dictionary of the Guqin)所录原文）(opens in a new window)
- On the pluck, move down one hui quickly and then knock. Source: 《槐阴书屋琴谱》（据Guoqinwang, Guqin Da Cidian (Great Dictionary of the Guqin)所录原文）(opens in a new window)
Easily confused with
- 撞zhuàng· knockZhuang jabs upward; fan zhuang jabs downward.
- 退复tuì fù· down and backTui fu rests at the lower position as a clear note; fan zhuang goes and returns at once without the lower note showing.
References
- 国琴网《古琴大辞典·指法》「反撞」条(opens in a new window)Qin community