Kin was prevailed most widely in the period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties and soon declined, but it had been seen as the sole music instrument for Bunjin even in the recent times.
このような琴の流行は南北朝時代(中国)に最高潮になりやがて衰退するが、近世になっても文人の嗜むべき随一の楽器とされ続けた。