History Tidbits of the Pipa 琵琶

This is a brief introduction to the history of the Chinese classical plucked string instrument - the pipa 琵琶. In my novel "Tales of Ming Courtesans" (coming soon!), two protagonists - peerless beauties Chen Yuanyuan 陳圓圓 and Li Xiangjun 李香君 - are both dazzling pipa players and kunqu singers in the glitzy Qinhuai pleasure district.
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[@AlicePoonHK]

How would one compare the Pipa with the Guqin?
The Pipa is a realist who takes the world as it is and a good storyteller. The sound of the Pipa can be striking as thunderclap, roaring like waves, as well as sad like mist or joyful like snowflakes. The music expressed is objective.
The Guqin is an idealist who tries to capture the outside world through poetic eyes. The sound of the Guqin is deep, sensual, and with carrying power. The music it expresses is subjective.

[@AlicePoonHK]

This is the excerpted passage from Bai Juyi's poem "Pipa Xing" 琵琶行 that describes the pipa music the poet was enjoying:
大弦嘈嘈如急雨，小弦切切如私語。
嘈嘈切切錯雜彈，大珠小珠落玉盤。
間關鶯語花底滑，幽咽泉流冰下難。
冰泉冷澀弦凝絕，凝絕不通聲暫歇。
別有幽愁暗恨生，此時無聲勝有聲。
銀瓶乍破水漿迸，鐵騎突出刀槍鳴。
曲終收撥當心畫，四弦一聲如裂帛。

[@stephenandrews8419]

Thanks for posting, that was really a very interesting & informative brief history. I had seen that instrument many times in films, but I never actually had any idea what it was called.
Am I right in thinking that it would be pronounced 'Pipper' with a double P. Rather than 'Piper', as in somebody who plays a pipe?

[@AlicePoonHK]

You're welcome! It's pronounced as "pi - pa".