Gao Shan Liu Shui

For most guqin players the titles "Gao Shan" and "Liu Shui" refer to specific qin melodies that survive from antiquity (earliest tablature is from the 1425 Gao Shan and Liu Shui). They may have evolved over the years, and there is sometimes the belief that there was originally one melody called Gao Shan Liu Shui, or Gaoshan Liushui, but in general little thought seems to go beyond these assumptions.

In fact, within the oral tradition there have been many melodies with these titles over the years, whether separately or together. And as this dictionary reference suggests, "Gao Shan Liu Shui" can simply refer to the concept of a beautiful melody.

In addition, as the same reference outlines, "Gao Shan Liu Shui" is also the name of an old poetic rhythm (cipai). In fact, most of the songs in the present handbook, Shuhuai Cao (1682), follow and are named after cipai (other examples).⁵

The image at right shows the way the handbook generally lays out these songs: rather than directly showing the pairing of lyrics and music, the lyrics are given first, then the tablature for the musical setting is written out. Regarding the actual title, sometimes, as here, this is simply the name of the ci pattern; in other cases there is a new title that is more directly related to actual lyrics of this rendition in that pattern. The actual arrangement of the lyrics and melody is discussed further below.

As for surviving melodic settings in this form, according to the Zha Guide qin music with the title Gaoshan Liushui survives only in the two song collections. They are nearly identical to each other and both are part of Songfengge Qinpu.⁶ The one shown at top is from Shu Huai Cao (1682); the one shown below is from Song Sheng Cao (1687). The lyrics of both, the same, are attributed to Zhou Zaidu (Yanke) of Daliang.⁷

Although the music of both is basically the same, the 1687 version does eliminate what seems to be some extraneous fingerings near the beginning, then it changes a few fingerings later. These are not necessarily corrections, though confirming this is complicated by the fact that the lyrics are stated first rather than being directly paired to the music. Both versions are attributed to the same person, Cheng Xiong, who apparently did the music for almost all the pieces in these two handbooks.⁸

As for the tuning/mode, although the 1682 version calls it 清角 qingjue (or qingjiao) while 1687 calls it simply 角 jue mode, their tuning is in fact both the same. In both cases it is clear that the tuning requires lowering the first, third and sixth strings (as with the Shen Qi Mi Pu Mangong mode). What is not clear is whether the few differences in fingering resulted from attempts by the latter to "correct" the former (it seems to have as many errors), or whether these are simply two differing interpretations of the same melody.

The non-standard tuning is interesting but seems unnecessary. Its tuning does emphasize that the melody has no connection with the more famous Gao Shan or Liu Shui, which both use standard tuning. However, except for one note this Gao Shan Liu Shui can easily be transposed into standard tuning. This is because the qingjue tuning results in the relative scale of the open strings being 3 5 6 1 2 3 5. As can be seen, if the first string is ignored, the tuning becomes 5 6 1 2 3 5, as with the first six strings in standard tuning. Here only one note (in the first phrase) is actually played on the first string. The result of this is that the whole melody is played in standard tuning, using only the first six strings. Each note is played on one string lower than is written and the seventh string is not used. The only note indicated on the first string is in the very first phrase. Instead of playing it as written in the tenth position it can be played down at the 外 wai position on the first string. This transposition to standard tuning would of course make it much more familiar to the average qin player.

This is still a temporary assessment, as both settings seem to have several mistaken finger positions and perhaps in punctuation, while the latter setting is not very clearly written and it lacks punctuation. Some of the problems I have marked in red in the online copies here (at top and below) of each:

The copy of the original 1682 setting has the punctuation added in red.
The tablature of the original 1687 setting has in red added one missing punctuation mark (corresponding to "紅 hong" in the lyics); and circled a mistake, next to it adding the correct figure meaning "begin harmonics".

Its pattern (the first half, at least) does fit very closely into the cipai called Gao Shan Liu Shui, as can be see by comparison with the example given here by the mid-13th century poet Wu Wenying.⁹

Comments here are particularly tentative. Although I have completed a tentative transcription, and started playing from that, I do not understand the lyrics very well and some crucial areas am finding problems. Of course, it would be very interesting if one could find a passage in either of the two famous instrumental melodies that had the same pattern as the lyrics here, so that it could be sung to that music. But this is very unlikely, and it also seems unlikely that the music could have any connection at all to the instrumental Gao Shan or Liu Shui. Thus, although in his preface to Gao Shan in Shen Qi Mi Pu, Zhu Quan stated that Gao Shan Liu Shui was originally a single melody, he is referring to an ancient and lost instrumental tradition, not to any surviving melody.

Xu Jian's Outline History, p. 177, discusses Gao Shan and Liu Shui separately, focusing on the 19th century version of Liu Shui attributed to 張孔山 Zhang Kongshan of Sichuan.

The setting for the present lyrics, as with almost all qin songs, is done one note per character except for the extra notes that come from certain left hand techniques such as slides. Here 搯起 taoqi occurs three times but is paired once; 罨 yan occurs once, unpaired.

When reciting seven character phrases it seems quite commeon to give each syllable almost equal duration but then pause one beat at the end of each line so the 7 syllables become 8 beats per line. Likewise, at least here, it seems natural to adjust the length of notes with the lyrics so that they can be recited or sung with a similar rhythm.

Preface (XII/358)
None, only the brief comments translated above. See also the further comment regarding the tuning and overall arrangement.

Melody and lyrics for the 1682 and 1687 Gao Shan Liu Shui¹⁰
My initial reconstruction into staff notation has been completed, but it needs more work before I can record it. A translation is also needed for the lyrics, which are given here with modern pronunciation, as follows:

A.
揮絃，一曲幾曾終。
Huī xián, yī qū jǐ céng zhōng

歷山邊，猶起薰風。
Lì shān biān, yóu qǐ xūn fēng.

門外客攜琹，依稀太古重逢。
Mén wài kè xié qín, yī xī tài gǔ chóng féng.

髙仾處，落雁驚鴻。
Gāo dī chù, luò yàn jīng hóng.

怕彈指。
Pà tán zhǐ

喚醒美人邜睡，客子春濃。
Huàn xǐng měi rén xī shuì, kè zi chūn nóng.

任閒愁千縷，也不觧踈慵。
Rèn xián chóu qiān lǚ, yě bù jiě shū yōng.

B.
焦桐，非中郞靑眼，
Jiāo tóng, fēi zhōng láng qīng yǎn,

徒沉埋爨下殘紅。
Tú chén mái cuàn xià cán hóng.

休慮卻，調高和寡，換徵移宮。
Xiū lǜ què, diào gāo hè guǎ, huàn zhǐ yí gōng.

一簾秋水月溶溶， (play this line in harmonics)
Yī lián qiū shuǐ yuè róng róng,

酒樽空。
Jiǔ zūn kōng.

懶聽琵琶江上，淚濕芙蓉。
Lǎn tīng pí pá jiāng shàng, lèi shī fú róng.

盼何時，鍾期再遇野航中。 (play the last three notes in harmonics;
Pàn hé shí, Zhōng Qī zài yù yě háng zhōng.

Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1. References for High Mountains Flowing Streams (高山流水 Gaoshan Liushui)
46302.32 has two descriptions,

"樂曲高妙 A masterful melody." Its example is the basic story of the qin melody as related in 列子湯問 Liezi Questions of Tang, 12 (see the preface to Gao Shan as well as Liezi, Yellow Emperor 5 and 13 [ctext]).
"詞牌 The name of a cipai." It then quotes 詞譜 Ci Pu as saying, "調見「夢窗詞」，吳文英自度曲。贈丁基仲妾作。妾善琴，故以高山流水為調名. For the melody see "Ci on a Window of Dreams", a piece by Wu Wenying. Presented to Ding Jizhong's wife (to create a melody?). She excelled at qin so the melody name given was Gaoshan Liushui." An alternate name for the melody is "錦瑟清商引".

Lyrics on Window of Dreams (夢窗詞 Meng Chuang Ci)
(Return)

2. Ci form "High Mountains Flowing Streams"
The 平仄 pingze structure of the cipai called Gao Shan Liu Shui is said to be as follows (sources: A and B). Note the parallel word count between sections A and B except for the last line. The classic (first?) example of this is said to be the poem by Wu Wenying that directly follows.

仄平仄仄仄平平。
仄平平、平仄平平。
平仄仄平平，平平仄仄平平。
平平仄、仄仄平平。
平平仄，
平仄平平仄仄，仄仄平平。
仄平平仄仄，仄仄仄平平。

平平。平平仄平仄，
平仄仄、仄仄平平。
平仄仄平平，仄仄仄仄平平。
仄平平、仄仄平平。
仄平仄，
平仄平平仄仄，仄仄平平。
仄平平仄，仄平仄、仄平平。

Wu Wenying's poem has been given the full title, "Ci on a Window of Dreams" (夢窗詞 Meng Chuang Ci), "to (a version of the tune) Gaoshan Liushui". The text below shows how it fits with the pingze outline above. It begins, though, with the following preface:

丁基仲側室善絲桐賦詠，曉達音呂，備歌舞之妙。
The "side chamber" (i.e., concubine) of Ding Jizhong (丁宥 Ding You) is skilled at qin and intoning lyrics; she is also familiar with the structure of music and is ready to sing and dance beautifully.

The poem itself, perhaps presented to Ding You, is then as follows:

素絃    一一起秋風。 ("The unadorned strings one by one evoke autumn breezes.
寫柔情、多在春葱。    Depicting sensous feelings, much like spring onions [i.e., slender fingers of a lover].
徽外斷腸聲，霜霄暗落驚鴻。    From beyond the qin come wrenching sounds, frosty skies darken startling wild geese.
低顰處、翦綠裁紅。    Leaning over and frowning, cut foliage green and red....")
仙郎伴，
新製還賡舊曲，映月簾櫳。
似名花並蒂，日日醉春濃。 (10 字; compare 4+3+3 ending the second verse; "春濃 spring's lushness")

吳中。空傳有西子， (西子 = 西施)
應不解、換徵移宮。　
蘭蕙滿襟懷，唾碧總噴花茸。 (11 字; compare 3 + 4 + 4 in qin song)
後堂深、想費春工。
客愁重，
時聽蕉寒雨碎，淚濕瓊鐘。
恁風流也，稱金屋、貯嬌慵。 (10 字; compare 3+7 in qin song)

汪元量 Wang Yuanliang (1241?-1318?) is usually credited as the creator of another Gaoshan Liushui poem (sometimes it is apparently also attributed to Wu Wenying). Its subtitle seems to be "Qingshang Melody Brocade Zither (錦瑟清商引 Jin Se Qingshang Yin; see above). As can be seen below it has the same line-by-line character count as Wu Wenying's first poem, but individual phrases have different word counts.

玉窗夜靜月流光。
拂鴛弦、先奏清商。
天外塞鴻飛呼，羣夜渡瀟湘。
風回處，戛玉鏗金，
翩翻作新勢，聲聲字字，歷歷鏘鏘。
忽低顰有恨，此意極淒涼。

爐香簾櫳正清灑，
轉調促柱成行。
機籟雜然鳴素手，擊碎琳琅。
翠雲深夢裏昭陽。
此心長。回顧窮陰絕漠，片影悠揚。
那昭君更苦，香淚溼紅裳。

Other poems in this form in addition to the one here (and here) attributed to 周在都 Zhou Zaidu (17th c.?) include ones by 屈大均 Qu Dajun (1630—1696) and other Qing dynasty poets.
(Return)

3. Qingjue mode (清角調 Qingjue diao) (3 5 6 1 2 3 5)
Lower 1st, 3rd and 6th strings a half tone each; see under mangong mode. However, my reconstruction uses standard tuning: see the comment above about how to do this. The main results of doing this is that it shifts all the pitches down a note and so perhaps favors a voice with a lower register, and it becomes a piece that can still be played if the seventh string suddenly breaks.
(Return)

4. Tablature for Gao Shan Liu Shui (1682; XII/380-81) 1687 Gao Shan Liu Shui (compare 1682)
Compare the 1687 version at right (XII/399). As shown by the image above, the 1682 version writes out the melody and lyrics on separate pages, with explanations as follows:

Line 1 of the top half (lyrics): "Zhou Zaidu of Daliang, a guest of Yan (i.e., of Cheng Xiong?), added the lyrics."
Line 2: "Gao Shan Liu Shui (in) Qingjue (mode)".
Line 1 of the bottom half (tablature): "Cheng Xiong of Yanshan, style name Ying'an, paired the pu" (i.e., its two parts, tablature and lyrics).
"Qing Jue: Gao Shan Liu Shui, lower the 1st, 3rd and 6th strings."

The 1682 version also has some mistakes. Here corrections have been made in red, as further discussed above.

The arrangement of the version in Song Sheng Cao (1687), shown at right, is somewhat different. First there are the lyrics, on the right side, then the tablature, on the left. Here,

Under the title to the lyrics part the mode is given as "Jue Yin" then below that it has the "Zhou Zaidu, Yan guest" without saying what he did.
The title of the lyrics is "Jue Yin". Under that "Gaoshan Liushui" is given as a subtitle; then below that is the name "Cheng Xiong, 隱菴 secluded in his hut".

Again, in the 1682 version corrections have been made in red, as discussed above. Note also that in 1687 the quality of printing is also not very good, making some characters difficult to read.
(Return)

5. Ci poems in Shu Huai Cao
Most of the poems in this handbook apparently were written in honor of, perhaps praising, Cheng Xiong (bio). Many, if not most, also use a ci form (玉樓春 Yu Lou Chun, 風入松 Feng Ru Song, 高山流水 Gao Shan Liu Shui, 水調歌頭 Shui Diao Ge Tou, 千秋歲引 Qian Qiu Sui Yin, 滿江紅 Man Jiang Hong, etc.). For more on this, search an outside link such as the following: 讀古詩詞網.
(Return)

6. Tracing Gao Shan Liu Shui
Zha Guide 36/--/527, in writing out the text of the two sources, makes some very useful corrections or explanations of characters, such as 琴 for 琹, 低 for 仾, 卯 for 邜. Details of the two editions are as follows:

Shu Huai Cao (#37, QQJC XII/380 [lyrics]/381 [music]; 1682; original tablature at top)
Song Sheng Cao (#23, QQJC XII/399; again lyrics then music; 1687; [original tablature below]).

The lyrics of both are the same, attributed to Zhou Zaidu (Yanke) of Daliang.
(Return)

7. 大梁周在都（燕客）Zhou Zaidu (Yanke) of Daliang
No further information. "燕客 Yan Ke" may mean he was a house guest of Cheng Xiong (of Yanshan).
(Return)

8. Source of the music for Gao Shan Liu Shui
Although the commentary with the tablature says Cheng Xiong "paired the lyrics with tablature", this does not necessarily mean he created the music himself. Also, the structure of the melody should allow it to be used for any any lyrics in the ci pattern Gao Shan Liu Shui, but to my knowledge this has never actually been tested.
(Return)

9. 吳文英 Wu Wenying (ca.1207 - ca.1269; Chinese Wiki)
From the Ningbo region but lived mostly in Hangzhou and Suzhou. Prolific but heavily criticized for his association with the faction trying to appease the Mongols to the north.

Two poems by Wu Wenying are said to be in the form Gao Shan Liu Shui, though I have been unable to find one, and the phrasing of the other is somewhat different.
(Return)

10. Music and lyrics for the qin song Gao Shan Liu Shui
The lyrics are arranged here without pinyin to show the comparative structure between the first and second half more clearly. The numbers below show my division of each half into four lines (eight in total). In my transcription these eight sections are similar in length, following my feeling for the music as having four lines in each section, as follows:

揮弦一曲幾曾終。
歷山邊，猶起薰風。
門外客攜琹，依稀太古重逢。 (11 字; compare 3 + 4 + 4 in part B; 琹 is an old form of 琴)
髙仾處，落雁驚鴻。
怕彈指。
喚醒美人邜睡，客子春濃。
任閒愁，千縷也不觧踈慵。 (Use 5+6 of this form? Compare classic form; also compare the last line below.)

B.
焦桐，非中郞靑眼，
徒沉埋爨下殘紅。
休慮卻，調高和寡，換徵移宮。 (11 字; compare 5 + 6 in part A as well as in the classic form)
一簾秋水月溶溶， (play this line in harmonics)
酒樽空。
懶聽琵琶江上，淚濕芙蓉。
盼何時，鍾期再遇野航中。 (10 字; Use 5+6 of this form? Compare 4 + 3 + 3 in the classic form; play the last three notes in harmonics)

Note that here the last line of each section is 3+7 whereas in the classic form the last lines are different (5+6 for first, 3+4+4 for second. The classic form is discussed further above. It is not yet clear whether there are other Gao Shang Liu Shui using other variants.
(Return)

Return to Qin Poetry and Song or to the Guqin ToC.