琴 (qín)

guqin 古琴[gu3 qin2] (a type of zither); musical instrument in general

Etymology

The top component is a pictograph of a zither-like stringed musical instrument. 今 is a sound component.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“琴,禁也。神農所作。洞越,練朱五弦,周加二弦。象形。”

Components