Xilutang Qintong³ places this melody before all others, before even the gong modal prelude, perhaps indicating it was intended as a warming up piece. However, almost the same melody occurs as the seventh piece in Fengxuan Xianpin (1539), with the title Yi Sa Jin (Once Casting Away Money), and with lyrics. Pieces in Fengxuan Xuanpin have no explanations, nor does this is one in Xilutang Qintong, so its origins remain obscure. It is not musically related to Caoman Yin (Adjusting the Silk Strings Prelude), which developed into Melody of the Transcendent Venerable One.

Section Two, which uses only the first to fourth strings, is pitched a fifth lower than Section One, which uses only the fourth to seventh strings. Otherwise the two sections are identical.

 
Original preface

None

 
Music
Two sections (untitled); timing follows my recording 聽錄音

 
Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1. String Tuning Melody (調絃品 Tiao Xian Pin)
36488.92 tiao xian says "tune the melody of qin and se."
(Return)

2. Modes
For more on modes see Modality in Early Ming Qin Tablature
(Return)

3. Xilutang Qintong (1525) was compiled by Wang Zhi, who lived on the southeast side of Huang Shan mountain in Anhui province. Wang in his introduction says he spent 30 years collecting the tunes. (Return)

Return to the annotated handbook list or to the Guqin ToC.