ajaeng sanjo

The ajaeng sanjo is a Korean musical instrument, a smaller version of the traditional ajaeng zither. It is approximately 120 cm (47 inches) long and features eight strings. This instrument is used to play a variety of musical genres, including sanjo, which is virtuosic solo music, as well as folk songs and shaman ensembles.1

The ajaeng itself is a large, bowed zither with seven silk strings, originating from China and introduced to Korea during the Goryeo dynasty. It is typically played with a bow made from a forsythia branch. The ajaeng's distinctive sound is raspy, and its melodies are highly expressive. It is often paired with the haegum, a two-stringed vertical fiddle, in traditional Korean court music.12