As Ming-era Chinese music declined early under the pressure of Xing-era Chinese music, if they simply mention "gekkin," it means gekkin used for Xing-era Chinese music (refer to photographs) (For the difference in appearance between "ruanxian"(gekkin for Ming-era Chinese music) and gekkin for Xing-era Chinese music, refer to figures of "Ming and Xing-era musical instruments" on the page for Xing-era Chinese music.)
明楽は清楽に押されて早くに衰退したこともあり、日本で単に「月琴」と言えば、清楽で使う月琴(写真参照)を指す(阮咸(明楽の月琴)と清楽の月琴の形状の差異については、清楽の頁の「明清楽器」の図を参照のこと)。