The term long zither,
or vaulted zither,
is applied to an East Asian form intermediate between a half-tube zither and a board zither. As the names indicate, such zithers have a slightly arched surface and are typically narrow, forming an elongated rectangle or trapeze that can attain 2 meters (6½ feet) in length. The bottom is flat. The vaulted upper and flat lower surfaces are said in China to be symbolic of heaven and earth. Most of them are plucked,...
