This melody survives only in Fengxuan Xuanpin. This handbook has no commentary and there are no lyrics. The title suggests the idea here is similar to that of #45 Gujiao Xing, but Fengxuan Xuanpin does not pair melodies and later versions of Gujiao Xing in handbooks that do like to pair melodies (see, for example, in Xilutang Qintong) pair it with a different melody.

Shen Qi Mi Pu (1425) and two other handbooks have a musically unrelated Kai Gu. Some commentary is connected to that version.

 
Original preface

 
Music
3 sections (untitled); timings are from my recording 聽錄音

1. 00.00
2. 00.31
3. 01.20
   01.58 (harmonic coda)
   02.15 (end)

 
Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1. Kai Gu references
慨古 11405.xxx ; 11405.0 quotes from Dongjing Fu (see footnote below; see also Sixuan Fu: 思玄賦﹕慨含唏而增愁).
(Return)

2. Tuning and mode
Standard tuning is usually considered as 5 6 1 2 3 5 6. For further information on shang mode see Shenpin Shang Yi and Modality in Early Ming Qin Tablature. (Return)

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