There are different opinions about its origin. According to the literature and history data from Han Dynasty to Wei and Jin Dynasties, Ruan is a musical instrument with round body, straight neck, four strings and 12 columns. It originated from about 2 17 BC to 105 BC, and was called Qin Pipa or Qin Hanzi in Chinese.
3. Ruan Xianshan played this pipa in the Western Jin Dynasty, hence the name Ruan Xian. In the Tang Dynasty, the music pipa, which was introduced to China from the Western Regions about 350 years ago, was very popular and ranked first in the music department. Gradually, the pipa with curved neck is called pipa, and the round pipa with straight handle is called Ruan Xian. Until the Qing Dynasty, although Ruan still maintained the ancient system, its musical range was only 1 octave, and the popular old Ruan degenerated into two or three strings.
4. Ruan Xian, one of the "Seven Sages of Bamboo Forest" in the Western Jin Dynasty (AD 266-3 16), was an outstanding musician and liked playing this instrument best. At that time, he was already playing Ruan and tended to be stereotyped. Due to Ruan Xian's skillful performance and the society's admiration for the Seven Sages of Bamboo Forest at that time, this instrument was once popular all over the country and became the main instrument for chorus solo, ensemble or accompaniment. Later, Ruan was once lost because of social unrest.