Qu Xian Shen Qi Mi Pu I

Qu Xian Shen Qi Mi Pu
I: Taigu Shenpin

臞仙神奇秘譜
太古神品

The Emaciated Immortal's Handbook of Spiritual and Marvelous Mysteries,
Folio One: Celestial Airs of Antiquity ¹

Folio One contains 16 pieces that Zhu Quan could find only in manuscript form; since no one could play the music he just copied them out as he found them. Introductions to each of its melodies are accessible through the Shen Qi Mi Pu Table of Contents. There is also further commentary in the General Introduction.

The second edition of Folio One ends with the following note:²

For several of the above pieces the old handbook (i.e., first edition) had no punctuation. Now during leisure time I, using my own concepts to examine the sounds and flavors, have put punctuation at the ends of phrases. I hope all music connoisseurs will examine this. Longji xinwei (1511 or 1571), summer, fourth lunar month, respectfully recorded.

More detailed information about Folio I is included under Shen Qi Mi Pu, A General Introduction.

Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1. Celestial Airs of Antiquity (太古神品)
Compare Music Bequeathed from Antiquity (太古遺音 Taigu Yiyin).
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2. Comment at the end of the Second Edition, Folio 1
As can be seen here this comment was not included in the third edition. The original text is as follows:

前數曲舊譜無句點。近於暇日竊以私意詳其聲，趣點於句下。庶知音者察焉。龍集辛未夏四月謹識。 The date given at the end 龍集辛未夏四月謹識 Longji xinwei (1511 or 1571), summer, fourth lunar month, respectfully recorded, is somewhat problematic, as the book itself is said to have been published during the Jiaqing period, 1522 - 1567.
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Return to the Shen Qi Mi Pu index or to the Guqin ToC.