月琴 Yueqin (Moon Lute)

I originally thought this was a Ruan but further investigation tells me that this is a Yueqin, not a Ruan. Now they both come from the same root chordophone, but there are significant differences between them. The Yueqin doesn't have a bridge or sound holes and the Ruan has both. Another difference is the Yueqin should have 4 strings in 2 courses whereas the Ruan would have 3 single courses. Clearly the previous custodian was trying to play it as a Ruan hence the 3 strings, (and the 5 holes in the bridge)

On the condition it arrived to me in, there are no cracks but there is the 5th fret, where the neck meets the body, missing and it does need a damn good clean. OK so it is a little plain after some of the ones I have seen, but its certainly interesting and I do love those big fat tuning pegs.