The Konghou is a plucked string instrument with cylindrical tuning tongpin, which is different from the Qin and zither in ancient China. The etymology of Konghou is regarded by the Dictionary of Chinese Loanwords as Qobuz/Qūpūz of Turkic language.Through the comprehensive study and judgment of archaeological objects, archaeological images, relevant pronunciation and shape investigation, the author finds that the dictionary interpretation is inaccurate. Qobuz/Qūpūz is a kind of wind instrument, which is different from the harp plucked string instrument. The author tends to think that the etymology of the Konghou is Qanun/Kanun, which was popular in the ancient Assyrian Empire in the 19th century BC. It is called Qalon in Xinjiang Uygur language (Turkic). Kanon is the prototype of the ancient Chinese recumbent konghou. It was introduced into the Han Dynasty from Persia to Xinjiang from the 6th century BC to the 4th century BC. Later, the manufacturing material of its groove was changed to bamboo, and its shape changed from trapezoid to rectangle. Harp konghou came into China with the eastward spread of Buddhism. Although it gradually replaced the recumbent konghou, it appeared and flourished from the 3rd century AD to the 13th century AD, much later than the recumbent Qanun/Kanun.