qin top woods in China

Referring to lumber used for the top of the qin in China, there are 3 kinds
that seem to come up a lot: 1. wutong 梧桐, 2. shanmu 杉, and 3. baitong 白桐.
This is not to say that other kinds of woods cannot be used. Pine, cedar, spruce
are all possibilities. But there are the three kinds most often used in China.

wutong:

See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firmiana_simplex

known as Firmiana simplex (scientific name) and Chinese parasol tree (English).
There are other scientific names.

shanmu:

Evert Koster found this as "shan mu". This makes sense to me:
See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cunninghamia.

So basically "Chinese fir"and Cunninghamia. Not a fir though -- more like cypress. The web page says "used in temples" !!!

bai tong:

English name is "paulownia" or paulownia tomentosa to be more specific.

See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulownia

The wood is very light and white in color more or less. This
wood is known in Japanese as "kiri" and has been used in furniture -- tansu-making.