The dulcimer originated in ancient Persia and has spread for thousands of years to more than 20 countries and regions. It is called "Santur" in India. It has been introduced to China for more than 400 years. In China, it was renamed from "dulcimer" to "dulcimer" because of its melodious sound. It is a common folk instrument that can be played solo, in ensemble or with accompaniment. With the reform of musical instruments, the playing form of dulcimer is also changing.

Due to its own characteristics, the dulcimer is the most suitable instrument for an ensemble. It does not have outstanding features like suona and other instruments. The characteristic of the dulcimer is precisely its softness.

Dulcimer is called "a handful of smoke" in the folk music of Jiangnan Sizhu, because its tone can be well integrated with other distinctive musical instruments. Coupled with the cultural diversity behind the dulcimer, it can play various styles of music such as jazz and modern, so it is very popular among young people.