剌three fingers outward together
Pinyin: là
Right hand, compoundAlso written: 刺
The index, middle and ring fingers, in a slanted row, flick outward across one or two strings together, the reverse of bo.
How it is played
Bend the three fingers, this time with the index leading, the middle next and the ring behind, and sweep outward together at a slant. Slightly heavier than bo, but the fingers still stay close to the strings; do not lift off and strike.
How it sounds
Clear, vigorous and loud; often used at the end of a phrase, or joined with fu (damping) as a close.
In the classical handbooks
剌法亦以食中名三指竝用，俱令微曲其指之中節，使食指尖稍出於中指，中指尖稍出於名指，亦作斜勢，一齊同絃彈出，略重一掠（如字法掠勢），亦共得一聲，曰剌。Gist: The method of la also uses the index, middle and ring fingers together, each with the middle joint slightly bent, so the index fingertip stands a little beyond the middle and the middle a little beyond the ring, again at a slant. They pluck outward together on the same strings with a slightly heavier sweep (like the lüe stroke in calligraphy), again yielding one sound: this is la.
又令三指屈曲其節，食指稍出於中指，中指稍出於名指，亦作斜勢，一齊出絃，重重一掃曰刺。Gist: Again bend the joints of the three fingers, the index a little beyond the middle and the middle a little beyond the ring, at a slant, and go out across the strings together with one heavy sweep: this is la.
Where sources disagree
Written 剌 or 刺
- Qing printed editions mostly carve 刺, and pair it with 潑 as po-ci (潑刺). Source: Qinxue Rumen (Introduction to Qin Studies), vol. 1; Chengjiantang Qinpu, “Qinpu Zhifa” section(opens in a new window) · View the original page
- Today it is mostly written 剌 (là) and paired with 拨 as bo-la. Source: Chinese Wikipedia, “Jianzipu”(opens in a new window)
Easily confused with
- 拨bō· three fingers inward togetherLa goes outward with the index finger leading; bo goes inward with the ring finger leading.
References
- 国琴网指法库「剌——兰田馆琴谱」(opens in a new window)Qin community