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05. Thinking of [Emperor] Shun - Zhi mode, standard tuning2 played as 1 2 4 5 6 1 2

思舜 1 Si Shun    Confucius studying Wen Wang Cao from Shi Xiangzi 3

Versions of this melody can be found under various titles, including Wen Wang Cao (a current version is recorded by Cheng Gongliang), Wen Wang Qu, Wen Wang Si Shun, Wen Wang Si Shi and Lü Wang Xing Shun.⁴ However, not all melodies using these titles are musically related to Si Shun.

It is impossible to know the origin of these titles, or of their melodic material, but after 1491, melodies related to the present one can be found in at least 13 further handbooks to 1802.⁵ The next version after 1491 is also the earliest qin melody with the title Wen Wang Cao; it is a short qin song in Taigu Yiyin (1511) and its inclusion of a few musical motifs found here in Si Shun may thus be coincidental. More clear is the connection with another melody in Taigu Yiyin, Wen Wang Qu; at first the latter piece is very similar to here, then it continues to use a number of related melodic motifs in setting to music the lyrics of three poems from the Book of Songs.

The biography of Confucius in the Shi Ji, Chapter 47,⁶ tells of him learning a melody from Shi Xiang (or Shi Xiangzi). After Confucius had learned to play it, Shi Xiang said he could go on to the next one, but Confucius said he had learned only the melody, not the techniques. Later, when Shi Xiang again said he could go on to the next piece, Confucius said he had not yet caught the spirit. Next he said he could not yet visualize the person who was behind it. Finally he was able to identify the composer as Wen Wang (King Wen). Shi Xiang then bowed to Confucius, and identifed the melody as Wen Wang Cao. The same story is told on the illustration included above.

The title Wen Wang Si Shi occurs in a version of the Qin Cao attributed to the famous qin player Cai Yong (133-192).⁷ It connects the melody to the story of Wen Wang meeting Lü Shang quoted from the Book of History below under Shi Xian . Si Shun is often paired with Weibin Yin,⁸ which also concerns Lü Shang, though the lyrics of Si Shun only concern Shun.

Elsewhere Wen Wang Si Shun (or a version of it) is attributed to Xu Hezhong ⁹, a famous qin player near the beginning of the Ming dynasty. None of the early handbooks, including those three specifically using this title (Faming Qinpu [1530], Fengxuan Xuanpin [1539] and Taiyin Chuanxi [1551]) mentions Xu Hezhong or the Xu tradition. And there seem to be no indications elsewhere of what version(s) he may have played.

 
Zheyin Shizi Qinpu preface:¹⁰

(This piece), by Wen Wang, (is) commonly called Wen Wang.

The Beyond-Sounds Immortal says, as for this melody, Wen Wang made it and later people added to it. The Royal Ancestor's Handbook doesn't have this piece. The Book of History says,

And so this was transferred into qin sounds in order to praise his righteousness, and make this melody. So it is said.

 
Music
Nine sections (titled) and lyrics ¹¹

00.00   1. Thoughts of sacred virtue in a distant (past)
00.45   2. (Shun) succeeds to his position (through merit, not birthright)
01.25   3. He employs worthy people, utilizing their skills
02.06   4. He benefits people and builds an educational system
02.45   5. He has received the decree of heaven
03.24   6. The people can rule themselves
03.37   7. The divine spirit comes and things flourish
03.59   8. The emperor and his ministers advise each other
04.28   9. (We people today) could never pay sufficient respect (to Shun)
04.47       Closing harmonics
05.00       End

 
Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1. Si Shun references
思舜 10734.xxx ; the story of Wen Wang thinking of Shun, as related here, is usually found under the title Wen Wang Cao (see below). Zha Fuxi's index does not consistently differentiate between the various melodies; for this see below.
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2. Zhi mode (徵調 zhi diao)
Standard tuning can be considered as 5 6 1 2 3 5 6. For more information about 徵調 zhi mode see Shenpin Zhi Yi. For modes in general see Modality in Early Ming Qin Tablature.
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3. Confucius studying from Shi Xiangzi
Compare similar images. The image above is from an illustrated book of the life of Confucius, originally published ca. 1930 but copying old images. The illustration is "學琴師襄 Studying qin with Shi Xiang", and it is taken from 孔子聖蹟圖，河北美術出版社，1996. The commentary indicates Confucius is learning the melody Wen Wang Cao, as in the present Qin Shi entry.
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4. Tracing the melody of Si Shun
Chart not yet online; see also the next footnote.
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5. Alternate titles for 思舜 Si Shun
Zha, Guide, has three relevant references:

As for these various titles,

6. 詩集 p.1925. Translated by Yang Xianyi and Gladys Yang in Records of the Historian (Hong Kong, Commercial Press, 1974), pp.13-14. "Melody" is 曲 qu; "technique" is 數 shu; "spirit" is 志 zhi (in Shen Qi Mi Pu Zhu Quan often discusses the zhi of a melody); "man behind it" is 為人 wei ren. Shi Xiang (師襄 9129.189) is also called 師襄子 Shi Xiangzi.
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7. There seem to be two versions of the Qin Cao attributed to 蔡邕 Cai Yong.
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8. 渭濱吟 Weibin Yin
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9. Xu Hezhong 徐和仲
Xu Hezhong (Xu Shen) was said to be a fourth generation descendent of Xu Tianmin. His biography in Xu Jian's Qin History Outline, Chapter 7.1.A (p.124), includes a story, also told here, about Xu playing the melody Wu Ye Ti.
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10. Preface
The original Chinese preface can be seen under 思舜.
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11. Section titles and lyrics
The original Chinese section titles can be seen under 思舜. The original lyrics begin:

The rest are not yet online, but see this .pdf file (from Zha Guide [194] 718).
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Return to the Zheyin Shizi Qinpu index or to the Guqin ToC.