The zheng zither is one of the most popular instruments in contemporary China. It is commonly regarded as a solo instrument with a continuous tradition dating back to ancient times. But in fact, much of its contemporary solo repertory is derived from different regional folk ensemble repertories of the mid-twentieth century. Through a series of case studies, this book explores how the transformation of the Chinese zheng has constantly responded to its changing social context, critiquing the long-standing arguments concerning ?authenticity? in the development of tradition. This book is accompanied by a DVD which contains audio visual materials relating to the author?s fieldwork and zheng performances by different musicians.