Bingxian is the finest string that is used in bows and musical instruments like guqin 古琴. It is said to be made from the silk produced by bingcan 冰蠶 [icy silkworm], a legendary creature recorded in Wang Jia 王嘉 (died 390 CE) Shiyi ji 拾遺記 [Record of Heretofore Lost Works].
Bingxian on a guqin
