Bring the Qin

“Bring the Qin” 抱琴, written by Nakai with a relatively dry brush, refers to the final line of a poem by the Tang dynasty literatus Li Bai (701–762). The qin is a seven string instrument that is plucked. Li Bai’s poem, entitled “Drinking with a Hermit in the Mountains, ” reads: Two of us drinking together as mountain blossoms open; One cup, another cup, still one more cup— I’m feeling a bit drunk and the time has come for you to depart, But tomorrow morning, if you like, come again and bring the qin!