蠲index then middle finger inward, two quick notes
Pinyin: juān
Right hand, compoundAlso written: 涓, 捐, 半蠲, 双勾
On one string, the index finger plucks mo and the middle finger follows closely with gou, two notes close together. Modern scores mostly write it 涓.
How it is played
The index finger plucks inward first and the middle finger follows immediately, also inward, on the same string; the two fingers fall one after the other like the strokes of the character 八. The notes are very close, yet still distinguishable as two.
How it sounds
The same note sounded twice in quick succession, light then firm, like two drops of water falling.
In the classical handbooks
疊涓也，同絃得兩聲連。於此絃位宜用兩聲，抹句急彈，先抹後句，取聲連貫清捷為妙。Gist: Die juan: two notes joined on the same string. Where two notes are wanted at one string position, mo and gou are plucked quickly, mo first and then gou; a connected, clear and nimble sound is best.
半蠲也，食指才抹中指急勾。Gist: Ban juan (half juan): the index finger has barely plucked mo when the middle finger quickly hooks.
蠲也，以食中兩指齊下勾抹。Gist: Juan: the index and middle fingers fall together with gou and mo.
食指蠲角徵Gist: The index finger plays juan on jue and zhi.
Where sources disagree
What to call mo and gou in quick succession on one string
- Most Qing handbooks call it die juan; Chengjiantang Qinpu prints it as die zhi. Source: Qinxue Rumen (Introduction to Qin Studies), vol. 1; Chengjiantang Qinpu, “Qinpu Zhifa” section(opens in a new window) · View the original page
- Simply juan (涓), also called juan (蠲): the index and middle fingers in staggered succession, mo and gou on one string for two notes. Source: 《琴学正声》 (via the Guoqinwang technique database)(opens in a new window)
- Song sources call the quick mo-then-gou “ban juan” (half juan), while “juan” means both fingers falling together with gou and mo. The same book lists “shuang gou” separately: mo then gou, two quick notes. Source: Shilin Guangji (Comprehensive Record of Affairs), sequel vol. 4(opens in a new window)
Two notes on one string, or one sound on two strings
- Modern scores use it on one string for two notes. Source: Qinxue Rumen (Introduction to Qin Studies), vol. 1(opens in a new window) · View the original page
- In the Tang manuscript Youlan, juan is played on two strings as one sound, “slightly similar but largely different” from modern scores. Source: Yang Zongji, 《琴学丛书》 (via the Guoqinwang technique database)(opens in a new window)
- The index finger rests on the gong string and in one motion hooks across gong and shang as a single sound; the middle finger then presses the gong string to damp it. Source: Taiyin Daquanji (via the Guoqinwang technique database)(opens in a new window)
Easily confused with
- 叠蠲dié juān· doubled juanThe editor's die juan, like some old handbooks, is four notes on two strings; but the Qing “die juan” is exactly this entry's two notes on one string. Check the source when reading a score.
- 抹挑mǒ tiǎo· index finger in and outMo-tiao is the index finger in and out; juan has both the index and middle fingers moving inward.
References
- 管平湖《古指法考》（北京古琴文化研究会 编，中国书店出版社 2019；据 1963 年中国音乐研究所油印本整理，依《琴用指法》《乌丝栏》《太音大全》《琴书大全》考订古指法）Scholarship
- 国琴网指法库「蠲——琴学丛书」(opens in a new window)Qin community
- 国琴网指法库「蠲——琴学正声」(opens in a new window)Qin community