A preliminary study on the method of identifying Zheng by bridges

•Systematically discussed the differences between unearthed wooden instruments.•Found the presence of regular bridge indentations on the wood panel should be the basis for identification.•Employed portable microscopes, three-dimensional laser scanners, and other equipment to investigate modern Zheng samples.•Established a set of methods that can be adopted to identify the plucked instrument.•The research provides ideas for the restoration of ancient musical instruments.