Beside daqin (struck instrument with two beaters), one of its other names means "foreign instrument" in its original Chinese character, owing to the fact that the yangqin is an adaptation of the Persian santur or some Arabian type. The original was confined to the southeastern coastal province of Guangdong late in the Ming dynasty (c. the 16th century). It spread later throughout the inner areas.

The earliest type was arranged in two choirs (two rows of bridges), each having 8, later 10-12, courses (2 or 4 strings per courses). In the 1960's it developed into a type with 3 choirs, 10 courese each, or a type with 4 choirs, 12 or 13 courses each. Special devices such as the grooves with balls on both sides were added for the convenience in modulating. One of the recent types, without grooves, is arranged in traditional Chinese 12 lu, similar to Western chromatic scale, for more convenient modulation. Its range is over 4 octaves. Under the box is a damper to control lingering tones.

The yangqin, bright and harmonious in tone, is often used for solos and in ensembles or in the accompaniment of local operas, narratives and other vocal singings.

Yangqin models: 401 and 402 (Beijing), 78 and 82 (Shanghai)
Range: G-g3, low range (G-a) sounds sonorously with long vibration; medle range (a-d2) is clear and melodiou; d2 and up are sof, if use the back of the keys, it tuns clear sound.