Other qin themes

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Other Qin Themes ¹

The themes on this page in include some that are mostly, though not exclusively, more for discussion and/or analysis than for performance. Thus, a theme such as the qin in Vietnam is worth studying, but as yet I don't know how one would do a performance on this theme. The melodies listed are mainly those with the theme in their titles. Some of the themes could be expanded by adding titles that mention the topic in prefaces or section titles.

Animals (non-flying, including fantasy creatures but not ordinary humans [i.e., not immortals])
For flying creatures see.
Birds and insects as well as
fantasy animals
immortals,
As for humanity, almost all melodies (perhaps with the exception of modal preludes?) touch in some way on the human condition. Thus, a "human" program might focus on certain types of people, such as fishermen and woodcutters, as outlined below.
In the qin repertoire, non-flying animals (other than humans) are mostly noticeable for their absence compared to flying ones (even dragons can fly). Only the most human of animals, the gibbon, seems to have any significant mention.
1. Tale of Clarity in Thought and Action
  Later called Paired Clarity of Gibbon and Crane; see also Crane and Gibbon Pay Respect the Elderly.
  Several other melodies mention the gibbon in section titles (e.g., Autumn Wind and Cangwu Lament) or in lyrics (Secluded Cascading Spring)
  Non-flying fantasy creatures
  Basically unicorns and a three-legged toad. Dragons are listed under flying animals.
2. Huo Lin (Captured Unicorn)
3. Guanghan Qiu (Autumn in a Lunar Palace); possible connection to a toad
Animals of the Chinese "Zodiac" includes some discussion of connectin qin melodies to animals.
Birds (and other flying creatures)
Moved to a separate entry: a much larger theme than animals, especially considering dragons can fly.
Bo Ya
A whole program could be devoted to this legendary qin, his friend Zhong Ziqi, and his teacher, Cheng Lian
See details under Bo Ya
Drink Wine or Tea
Fishermen and Woodcutters
These melodies are all connected to idealized notions of fishing and woodsmenship (or fuel-gathering)
1. Yu Qiao Wenda (Dialogue Between the Fisherman and Woodcutter)
2. Taoyuan Chunxiao (Spring Dawn at Peach Spring, 1525)
  A Wuling fisherman travels to a hidden mountain utopia
3. Shi Xian (Respect the Virtuous [Lu Shuang was fishing])
4. Zepan Yin (Marshbank Prelude, 1425)
  A wandering Qu Yuan while seeking an honest man encounters a fisherman
5. Qu Yuan Wen Du (Qu Yuan Asks for Advice, >1505)
  Qu Yuan again meets a fisherman
6. Yu Ge (Fisherman's Song, standard tuning)
7. Yu Ge (Fisherman's Song, ruibin tuning)
8. Yu Ge Diao (Melody of the Fisherman's Song)
9. Zui Yu Chang Wan (A Drunken Fisherman Sings in the Evening)
10. Chun Jiang Wan Tiao (Spring River Evening View: fishing without bait)
11. Taoyuan Chunxiao (Spring Dawn at Peach Spring, 1525)
  A Wuling fisherman travels to a hidden mountain utopia
12. Gao Shan (High Mountains) and Liu Shui (Flowing Streams): Bo Ya and the woodcutter Zhong Ziqi
13. Qiao Ge (Woodcutter's Song)
14. Pheasants' Morning Flight (1425, #42)
  The early morning flight reminds a woodcutter he has no partner
Five String Qin Melodies (see separate entry)
Materials in preparation
Japan (see separate entry)
Materials in preparation
Morning
Only a few melodies focus on morning (compare "evening"), but many others mention it
1. Pheasants' Morning Flight (1425, #42)
  The early morning flight reminds a woodcutter he has no partner
2. Three Partings for Yangguan (1531, #23)
  A famous morning departure from Weicheng
3. Canon of Pure Tranquility (1592, #3)
  A Daoist morning lesson
Mountains (moved)
Plants and trees (see under Flowers)
Travel
Travel in literati culture can be both real and imagined; it can also concern specific places.
1. Da Hujia (Grand Version of Nomad Flute, 1425)
  Cai Wenji abducted and taken to Central Asia
2. Gui Qu Lai Ci (Come Away Home; >1505)
  Lyrics are Tao Yuanming's rhapsody about returning home
3. Yang Guan Sandie (Thrice Parting for Yangguan; >1505)
  Lyrics are Wang Wei's famous poem on a morning departure from Weicheng
4. Taoyuan Chunxiao (Spring Dawn at Peach Spring, 1525)
  A Wuling fisherman travels to a hidden mountain utopia
5. Tiantai Yin (Mt. Tiantai Prelude, >1505);
  The Wuling Mountain scholar portrays Liu Chen and Ruan Zhao visiting a utopia at Tiantai
6. Qiao Ge (Song of the Woodcutter, 1425)
  An idyllic life wandering in the mountains
7. Yu Ge (Song of the Fisherman, >1505)
  An idyllic life wandering along rivers
8. Zepan Yin (Marshbank Prelude, 1425)
  A wandering Qu Yuan while seeking an honest man encounters a fisherman
9. Qiu Hong (Autumn Geese, 1425)
  Geese headed south in autumn suggest exile
10. Yao Tian Sheng He (Jade Sheng Heavenly Crane, 1525)
  Wangzi Qiao rides a crane
11. Huaxu Yin (Huaxu Clan Prelude, 1425)
  The Yellow Emperor flies to a Daoist utopia
12. Liezi Yu Feng (Liezi Rides the Wind, 1425)
  The philosopher Liezi can travel at will
13. Shen You Liuhe (Spirit Wandering the World, 1425)
  A Daoist journey into the limitless heavens
14. Baji You (Wandering All Over, 1425)
  As previous
15. Yuan You (Wander Afar, 1525)
  Daoist response to Qu Yuan's Li Sao
16. Guanghan You (Wandering in a Lunar Palace, 1425)
  A Daoist trip to space; or Tang Minghuang dreams of visiting Yang Guifei on the moon
17. Li Ling Si Han (Li Ling Thinks of Han, 1525)
  A famous general held captive in Central Asia
18. Han Jie Cao (Lament with Han Credentials, 1525)
  A famous ambassador sent to Central Asia, then held there
Vietnam
Although there is evidence for the qin having been played at various times in Vietnam, there is very little information about this. Most of the detail on this comes from an article by Mitchell Clark, summarized separately.

Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1. Programs on other themes
At present this is mostly
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