This section has 59 entries, mostly prose. Many are fables. Important English and Chinese language reference materials in this area are included on a separate page.
(December 2004: At present it has little more than my efforts to track down the sources of these articles.²)

1. 洞仙傳 Dong Xian Zhuan: Biographies of Grotto-Transcendents (V/374)
   Anonymous, probably 6th C. CE (SW; 17777.24 洞仙歌)
   • 蓬珠仙遇 Meeting Peng Zhu (sic) the Immortal (should be Peng Qiu, Jin dynasty, from Beihai, style name Bojian? 32596.68 蓬球，晉，北海人，字伯堅 tells a very similar story, but from 神仙傳 Shenxian Zhuan, originally by 葛洪 Ge Hong [283-343] -- see #2 below)

     具丘西有玉女山。傳云晉太始中北海蓬珠字伯堅入山...

2. 神仙感遇傳 Shenxian Ganyu Zhuan: Encounters with Divine Transcendents (V/374)
   By 杜光庭 Du Guangting (850 - 933; see also #3)
   • 仙彈一絃 An immortal plays a one-string (qin);

     丈廣通者櫬溪縣勝村人。武陵記云... (Zhang Guangtong 16.xxx; Guangtong 9693.170xxx)

3. (杜光庭：墉城?)集仙錄 Yongcheng Jixian Lu: Collected Records of the Transcendents (at Yongcheng/the Fortified City) (V/374-5)
   By Du Guangting, about Daoist women transcendents and deities (compare #2). Yongcheng, also called 金城 Jincheng, was residence of 西王母 the Queen Mother of the West.

   Two selections:

   1. 弊衣負琴 In Tattered Clothing Carrying a Qin
      (Note that this story about Shanyang Pu does not specify gender; however, the stories in the source are focused on women.
      As for Shanyang, there were/are several places in China with this name. In particular, it is an old name for the 淮安 Huai'an district of what is now Jiangsu province. As for 淮南 Huainan, there is a place of that name in Anhui. Both are in the Huai River Basin.)

      山陽浦者，山陽人也。不知其姓名。家貧，以小舟運載為業。忽凌晨有一道士，弊衣負琴至， 要渡江時，天早塞甚，渡人甚希。浦猶豫間，道士忽投席帽於水，跳立其上，泛泛然越流而渡。 浦知其神人也，追悔既甚，操舟隨之。及岸，道士行甚運，而匍匐追之，終不能及，相去常百步許。至夜，失道士所在。 浦因不歸，於淮南市求之，終不復見。浦貧無他業，欲巡天下訪之，因伴狂踏歌，求乞自贍。周四方二十七年後，柠相州道中，見負琴行步限色如初見時，方得語。謂之曰：「子有元山玉骨合道之相，而不遇師匠，將沉淪宛生。余為下教二十四君所命，來度於子。子頗謂勤美矣。」袖中出一瓢，狀如青玉，其上微微有五色光，六七道，皆長三二尺。瓢中出神丹一粒，典之浦眼。 丹數月，猶伴狂踏歌不已。後於市中旋歌舞，凌空而去，墜其故依弊鞋，竦身昇天。其歌詞云：「山陽浦者，浪來有潮。」無人不知其姓名，因號為山陽浦。

      Shanyang Puzhe ("the person at Shangyang Riverbank") was a native of Shanyang, birth name unknown. Because her family was poor, she made a living transporting people in a small boat. Suddenly one early morning a Daoist adept arrived. In tattered clothing and carrying a qin as he arrived, wanting to cross the river. At that time, the sky was overcast, impeding crossing, and people were few. While Pu hesitated, the Daoist suddenly threw his straw hat onto the water, stepped onto it, and floated across the river as if gliding. Pu realized she had encountered a divine being and immediately regretted not having assisted him. She hurriedly rowed her boat to follow, but upon reaching the shore, the Daoist was already walking swiftly ahead. Pu crawled and struggled to catch up, yet no matter how hard she tried, she could never close the gap, which remained about a hundred paces. By nightfall, the Daoist had disappeared.

      From then on, Pu did not return home. She searched for the Daoist throughout the markets of Huainan but never saw him again. Having no other means of livelihood, she resolved to travel the world in search of the Daoist, sustaining herself by wandering, singing, and begging. After twenty-seven years of roaming the four corners of the land, she finally encountered the Daoist again along the road in Xiangzhou. The Daoist was still carrying a qin and looked exactly as he had when Pu first saw him. This time, Pu was able to speak to him. The Daoist said, "You have the qualities of Yuan Mountain and the jade-like bones of one destined for the Dao, yet you have not met the right teacher and are on the brink of falling into obscurity. I was sent by the Twenty-Four Lords of the Lower Teaching to guide you. You have indeed been diligent and admirable." With that, the Daoist took a jade-colored gourd from his sleeve. It emitted faint, multicolored rays, six or seven in total, each extending three or two feet. From the gourd, he took out a divine elixir and placed it in Pu's eye. For several months afterward, Pu continued her frenzied, ecstatic singing and dancing. Later, in the marketplace, she spun in song and dance, ascended into the air, and vanished into the heavens, leaving behind only her old, worn shoes. The lyrics of her song were:

      "At Shanyang Riverbank, when the waves rise, the tide follows."

      Now there is no one who doesn't know her name, and so she is known by the nickname Shanyang Pu (i.e., this became her name instead of her just being called "the person at Shanyang riverbank"?)

   2. 石室彈琴 In a stone room playing qin

      太真夫人者，王母之小女也，名婉羅，字勃遂，事（玄）都太真王。 有子為三天大上府司直，總糺天曹之遺。因遊逸（虛？）發事任，降主東嶽，退真王之編，司鬼神之師，五百年一代其職。 夫人因來視之，勉使勤政以補其過。道經臨淄，值縣小吏和君賢為賊刀所傷，將殂。夫人救治之而愈。君賢貧，無以為報，乃易姓名曰馬明生，隨夫人執役。 夫人入東嶽岱宗峭壁石室，上下懸絕，重岩崎嶮，去地千餘丈。（石）室中有金床玉几，珍物奇玩，（人跡所不能至，馬）明生初欲求金瘡方，既見仙家境界，神情澄正，更無邪念。 夫人或呼明生並坐引酌，常聞空中有琴瑟音。夫人亦時禪琴，琴有一弦，五音並奏，高傘響激，清和宛妙。珎禽皆集，徘徊飛翔。 明生奉待夫人，彌歷歲陰，益加精恪。夫人乃召安期，慶明生昇舉之道。暨夫人入女几山，乘雲龍而去。明生随安期，周游青城、廬潜，凡二十年，煉（元）金丹而生天也。

      Lady Taizhen was the youngest daughter of the Queen Mother. Her name was Wanluo, and her courtesy name was Bosui. She served the True King of Xuandu. She had a son who was a Supervisor of the Supreme Office of the Three Heavens, overseeing the unfinished matters of the Celestial Bureau. Because he indulged in leisure and neglected his duties, he was demoted to serve under the Lord of the Eastern Peak (commonly associated with Mount Tai in Shandong province), removed from the register of True Kings, and made a master of ghosts and spirits. His position was to be succeeded once every five hundred years.

      Lady Taizhen went to see him and urge him to be diligent in his work to make up for his past mistakes. While traveling through Linzi, she encountered a minor county official named He Junxian, who had been wounded by bandits and was near death. Lady Taizhen healed him, and he recovered. Since He Junxian was poor and had no way to repay her, he changed his name to Ma Mingsheng and followed Lady Taizhen, serving her. Lady Taizhen entered a stone chamber on the sheer cliffs of the Eastern Peak. The chamber was suspended between towering, rugged peaks, more than a thousand zhang above the ground. Inside, there was a golden bed and a jade table, filled with rare and marvelous treasures. (This was a place unreachable by human footsteps.) At first, Ma Mingsheng only wished to learn a remedy for wounds, but upon seeing the realm of the immortals, his mind became clear and pure, and he no longer had any stray thoughts. Lady Taizhen would sometimes call Mingsheng to sit with her and drink. Sounds of qin and se zithers were often heard in the air. Lady Taizhen also played the qin in meditation; though the instrument had only one string, it produced all five tones in harmonious resonance, its high and lingering notes clear, gentle, and exquisite. Rare birds gathered, circling and gliding in delight. Mingsheng served Lady Taizhen, and as the years passed, he became increasingly devoted and diligent. Finally, Lady Taizhen summoned Anqi and instructed him to guide Ma Mingsheng on the path to ascension. Then, she entered Mount Nüji, rode a cloud dragon, and departed. Ma Mingsheng followed Anqi, traveling through Qingcheng and Luqian for twenty years. Eventually, he refined the primal golden elixir and ascended to the heavens.

      This story is briefly mentioned in an appendage to an entry in Qin Shi about another one-string qin player, Zhou Taibin. And Taiyin Daquanji, Qin illustration 31, shows a one-string qin said to have been played by Ma Mingsheng himself.

4. 文始內傳 Wenshi Neizhuan: Yin Xi's Inner Teachings (V/375)
   13766.307xxx; anonymous 6th century text, surviving only in fragments (Wenshi = 關尹子 Guan Yinzi = 尹喜 Yin Xi)
   • Selection untitled.

     崑崙山有七寶之林紫華丹實碧葉瓊枝音中琴瑟相和皆應律呂正當北辰之輝。

5. 琴仙傳 Qin Xian Zhuan: Biographies of Qin Immortals (V/375)
   21570.xxx;
   • 涓子三弦 three strings (qin) of Xie Juanzi of Lu (also ones by Hu Yan of Zhao and Zhang Dao of Han)

     魯謝涓子置三弦琴，於要間作半月形。
     Xie Juanzi of Lu developed a three string qin; at the waist it had a half-moon shape.
     又趙胡言、漢張道亦作之。皆有七絃之音。
     Also, Hu Yan of Zhao and Zhang Dao of Han made them; they all had the sound of seven strings.

6. 洞冥記 Tong Ming Ji: Account of Knowing the Profound (V/375)
   17777.54: 4 folios, by 郭憲 Guo Xian of Latter Han
   • 拊落霞琴

     漢武帝嘗夕望東邊有青雲.... Han emperor Wudi sees two 神女 heavenly women dancing

7. 化書 Hua Shu (V/375)
   2614.89 A book on magic by 南唐譚峭 Tan Qiao (10th c.; Giles)
   Two untitled selections, both concerning qin se
   1. 操琴瑟之音則翛然而閑奏鄭衛之音則....

   2. 觀其文章則知其人之貴賤焉。觀其書籇則知其人之情性焉。聞其琴瑟則知其人者道德焉....

8. 幽明錄 You Ming Lu: Accounts of the Hidden and the Visible (V/375-6)
   9411.33xxx; (youming); by Liu Yiqing;
   • 嵇康傳廣陵散 Xi Kang transmits Guangling San

     會稽賀思令善彈琴嘗夜在月中坐臨風鳴彈忽有一人形器....

9. 江湖紀文 Jianghu Jiwen (V/376)
   17496.316 etc have various 江湖 Jianghu titles, including books by 陳起 Chen Qi (12th c; Bio/1343) and 陳浩 Chen Hao (also Song), but no 江湖紀文 . See further under Lu Guimeng
   • 琴精歌詩 Qin Essence Song Lyrics

     宋嘉熙丁酉鄭州金鶴雲以琴碁書畫寓嘉興俯富家與招提寺相近每夜聞女子歌曰，音音音音音，你....
     In 1060 CE in Zhengzhou....(mentions Qin Qi Shu Hua and women singing)

10. 山河例記 Shanhe Liji: Records from Mountains and Rivers (V/376)
    8043.xxx;
    • 望月鼓琴 Playing qin facing the moon.

      晉世王恭伯字子升會稽人美姿容善鼓琴.... Jin (14210.95xxx) Shiwang (Prince of Shi? 33.xxx) Gongbo (10838.22xxx), style name Zisheng (7072.58xxx), of Kuaiji, had a beautiful appearance and was skilled at qin.... (Woman appears as he is playing.)

11. 樹萱錄 Shuxuan Lu Record of Amnesia Plants (V/376)
    15888.91 shuxuan: amnesia plant
    • 碧溪彈琴 Bixi Tan Qin

      番禺鄭僕射嘗遊湘中.... Zheng Puyi (40513.xxx; 1151.24 a rank) meets a woman by the Xiang river

12. 祖台(之)，志怪 Zhi Guai: Accounts of Anomalies (V/376)
    By 祖台之 Zu Taizhi (25209.28 晉，范陽人). For this and other zhiguai see Strange Writing.
    • 瓊林取琴

      建康小吏曹著見廬山夫人.... Cao Zhu meets 女婉 the woman Wan, who plays a qin

13. 北瑣夢言 Beisuo Mengyan (V/376)
    2615.336 is a 北夢瑣言 Beimeng Suoyan by 孫光憲 Sun Guangxian (d. 968; ICTCL)
    • 鼓琴吹笛

      溫庭筠善彈琴.... Wen Tingyun plays qin and flute

14. 武夷山記 Wuyi Shan Ji Record of Wuyi Mountain (V/376-7)
    武夷君 16623.83 Wuyi Jun, quotes several sources including Wuyi Shan Ji by 陸羽 Lu Yu (733 - ca.804).³ The quote largely concerns the celestial music played at Wuyi Mountain, beginning as follows (translation below):
    秦始皇二年八月十五日，武夷君....於幔亭峰上設虛床祀....太極玉皇....大姥魏真人命鼓師張安陵打引鼓，趙元期拍副鼓，劉小禽坎鈴鼓，曾少重擺鼗鼓，喬知滿振嘈鼓，高子春持短鼓；管師鮑公希吹橫笛，何鳳兒撫節板，奏賓雲左仙之曲。次命弦師董仙娘彈坎篌，謝英妃撫長琴，呂荷香戛圓腹。管師黃次姑噪，悲篥秀淡鳴洞簫，朱小娥運居巢，金師羅妙容揮䤶銚，奏賓雲右仙之曲。但見樂具空間橫立，音響精妙。

    Note that "...." above and underlining characters below have been added to help show its connection to versions elsewhere, which are somewhat different as well as more complete. See, for example, here:

    又云秦始皇二年八月十五日，武夷君置殽酒，會鄉人幔亭峰上。初，男女千餘人，齋戒如期而往，乃見虹梁跨溪，制度精巧，飛梯回級，傍設闌中，體輕心喜，不覺其倦。至山頂，有幔亭綵屋，玲瓏掩映，前後可數百間。夾幔亭立八綵幢八枚，銀龍(口銜)玉蘊幡，金鳳翠毛。其幔亭可坐千餘人，設東西地席，各有長座，如今之僧尼位。施綠油紅卷花，食卓，自北競南，無接續其幔亭。 北壁當中設一虛牀，謂之太極玉皇座；北壁西廈設一虛牀，謂之太姥魏真座；北壁東設一虛牀，謂之武夷君座，悉施紅雲茵、紫霞褥，各一銅盂貯花水。初，鄉人至幔亭峰衙門外，聞擊鼓聲，少頃空中有告云，悉呼鄉人為曾孫，乃曰：汝等男孫先入東序而進，女孫後入西序而進。既而聞讚告曰： 有太極玉皇大帝降臨山藪，曾孫可拜謝。又曰：太姥魏真人，曾孫可拜。又聞噓咳之聲，乃武夷君焉，高聲而言曰：汝等曾孫，若男若女，皆平安好，男孫東座，女孫西座。中亭有青綾帳幄，各設一牀，陳諸樂具，又聞讚告曰：命鼓師張安陵打引鼓，趙元竒拍副鼓，劉小禽坎鈴鼓，曾少重擺鼗鼓鼓，喬知滿振嘈鼓，高子春持短鼓，管師鮑公希吹橫笛板頭，何鳳兒撫等散，如此處東幄，奏停雲左仙之曲。命弦師董嬌娘彈箜篌，謝英妃撫長琴，呂荷香戛圓琵琶。管師其次姑噪，畢篥秀浹鳴洞簫，朱小娥運笙，金師羅妙容打銅鈸，如此處西幄，奏賓雲右仙之曲。見樂具空間橫豎，自響精妙。

    命及行酒，須臾酒至，無謝禮，酒味甘香而醇，酒醴百味珍竒，並皆殊越。又命行酒，乃令歌師彭令昭唱人間可哀之曲，辭曰：天上人間兮會合稀踈，日落西山兮夕鳥歸飛，百年一餉兮志與願違，天宮咫尺兮恨不相隨。歌罷，忽彩雲四合環珮，人馬之音竟空而至。又聞讚告云：玉靈太姥與大姥與曾孫別，再拜。又云：汝等宜速下此山間，久即有蛇螭虎豹之伍，不可遭逢。乃下山，俄而風雨暴至，各回顧山頂，無復一物。鄉人相喚曰：我等凡賤，得與仙尊共宴。後致祠其山，號曰同山云爾。侍郎劉夔序云：山在建寧北二百里外，崇安縣南三十里。按茅君內傳云：仙家有三十六洞天，武夷山乃第十六洞，昇真玄化之天。

    
    A translation of the first part of this gathering at Wuyi Mountain is as follows
    During (Mid-Autumn Moon of 220 BCE) the Lord of Wuyi....arranged on Manting Peak an Empty Altar Ritual (? 虛床祀 33515.xxx; 8/xxx)....dedicating it to the Supreme Ultimate Jade Emperor (太極玉皇).... The immortal Wei Zhenren (魏真人) commanded the drummers (as follows):
    • Zhang Anling (張安陵) to beat the leading drum (引鼓),
    • Zhao Yuanqi (趙元期) to strike the accompanying drum (副鼓),
    • Liu Xiaoqin (劉小禽) to play the Kan-ling drum (坎鈴鼓),
    • Zeng Shaozhong (曾少重) to shake the Tao drum (鼗鼓),
    • Qiao Zhiman (喬知滿) to sound the Cao drum (嘈鼓),
    • Gao Zichun (高子春) to hold the short drum (短鼓).
    The flute masters were also ordered to perform:
    • Bao Gongxi (鮑公希) played the transverse flute (橫笛),
    • He Feng’er (何鳳兒) tapped the rhythmic clappers (節板),
    Together, they performed the “Left Immortal’s Melody of Bin-Yun” (賓雲左仙之曲).
    Next, the string musicians took their turn:
    • Dong Xian-niang (董仙娘) plucked the Kan-hou (坎篌, an ancient harp),
    • Xie Yingfei (謝英妃) played the long qin (長琴),
    • Lü Hexiang (呂荷香) struck the round-bellied lute (圓腹).
    Among the wind and vocal musicians:
    • Huang Cigui (黃次姑) sang,
    • Beili Xiudan (悲篥秀淡) played the dongxiao (洞簫, vertical bamboo flute),
    • Zhu Xiao’e (朱小娥) performed the “Residence Nest” (運居巢),
    • Jin Shiluo Miaorong (金師羅妙容) swung the bronze cymbals (䤶銚).

    Together, they performed the “Right Immortal’s Melody of Bin-Yun” (賓雲右仙之曲). The instruments stood suspended in the air, and the music resounded with exquisite perfection.

15. 鄭緝之，東陽記 Zheng Ji(zhi): Records of Dongyang (V/377)
    14827.496 name of many places; Zheng Ji(zhi) 40513.xxx, 28294.1xxx
    • 王質，聽琴 Wang Zhi Hears a Qin (not the poet who lived 1127-1189)

      晉中朝時有王質者入山伐木.... When Wang Zhi (Bio/106 #1: 西晉東陽人 a man of Dongyang, 4th c.) went to the mountains to cut wood, he saw four boys playing qin and singing; when he returned home decades had passed. (Elsewhere: centuries had passed; the boys also played chess.)

16. 西京雜記 Xijing Zaji: Miscellaneous Records of the Eastern Capital⁴ (V/377)
    • 單鵠寡鳧之弄

      齊人劉道強嘗彈琴.... Liu Daoqiang of Qi was skilled at playing qin. He could create the melody Dan Gu Gua Fu. Listeners were all so sad they could not help themselves

17. 王子年，拾遺(記) Wang Zinian, Shi Yi (Ji): Researching Lost Records (V/377)
    Compiled 6th c. by 蕭綺 Xiao Qi; two selections indicated, but written without a break
    1. 師延一絃

       師延者商之樂人也。設樂以....Shi Yan plays a one-string qin

    2. 奏迷魂遙魄曲

       師延乃更奏迷魂遙魄曲以歡脩夜之娛乃....

18. 張華，博物志 Bowu Zhi: Treatise on Curiosities (V/377)
    By Zhang Hua (232 - 300); see SW; I don't know why this is not together with #42 below
    • 天帝白雪

      白雪是天帝使素女鼓五絃之琴.... Su Nü plays Bai Xue

19. 語林 Yu Lin (Compare #47 below; V/377)
    36351.23 by 晉裴啟 Pei Qi of Jin (Bio/2457); source for 殷芸，小說 Xiao Shuo (Lesser Sayings) by Yin Yun
    • Selection untitled

      嵇康字叔夜有邁俗之志.... Xi Kang sees eight ghosts at the home of 王伯通 Wang Botong. They teach (?) Guangling San.

20. 盧氏，雜說 Lu Shi, Zashuo: Fragmented Writings of Lushi
    23580.32 Chun Qiu period doctor; county in Henan (see also #23 below; V/377)
    • 沈祝家聲 Sounds of the Shen and Zhu Families (see Dong Tinglan)

      響泉韻磬本在樊澤司徒家後在朱崖宅....

21. 王琰，冥詳記 Wang Yan, Mingxiang Ji (V/377)
    Tang? (Bio/137 has three); 1621.xxx
    • 死還彈琴; concerns 史光 Shi Guang (Bio/xxx); mentions 阿母 A Mu (Bio/xxx)

      史光死後為天上人常還後彈琴樂阿母聲清妙不同餘音。

22. 炙轂子雜錄 Zhiguzi Zalu: Miscellaneous Records of Zhiguzi (V/378)
    By 王叡 Wang Rui, nickname Zhiguzi (434–481? Tang?; Bio/149)
    Elsewhere he comments on 招隱 Zhao Yin
    • 嘯演為琴 (Whistling like performing on a qin); two parts
      ("嘯 Xiao" could also "howling" or just "calling out", as with a gibbon; compare "exhale" above. See also Wikipedia "transcendental whistling".)
      1. 鶴，古今注﹕鶴千載變蒼，又千載變黑，所謂玄鶴也。師曠鼓琴，感玄鶴來舞。
         Of cranes, Records Old and New (by 崔豹 Cui Biao, ca. 300 CE) said, "When cranes reach the age of a thousand years they turn dark blue; after another thousand years they turn black; these are the so-called "dark cranes". When Shi Kuang played qin it so moved dark cranes that they came and danced.     (? No mention of 嘯 calling out.)

      2. Called "長嘯 Chang Xiao" (Long Whistling), this can be found in ctext, where it is the last paragaph of Section 5 of "Master Feng's records of hearsay and personal experience" (封氏聞見記 Fengshi Wenjian Ji; see China Knowledge)
         永泰中，大理評事孫廣著《嘯旨》一篇云：「其氣激於喉中而濁，謂之言。激於舌端而清，謂之嘯。言之濁可以通人事、達性情。嘯之清可以滅鬼神、致不死。.... 故太上老君授南極真人，（南極）真人授廣成子，廣成子授風后，風后授務光，務光授舜，演之為琴，以授禹。自後或廢或續，晉太行仙人孫公，能以得道而無所授。阮嗣宗所得少許，其後不復聞矣。
         In 755/6 the Honorable Case Reviewer Sun Guang (Bio/336: 齊人字淹源，善談吐?) wrote "Xiao Zhi" (The Principles of Whistling), One Essay. It said, "If this qi activated in the throat is turbid it is called 'speaking'; if activated at the end of the tongue and thus clear, it is called 'whistling'. The turbidity of speech can manage people's affairs; achieve temperament (?). The clarity of whistling can be used to defeat ghosts and spirits, arrive at immortality.... Therefore Laozi transmitted it to the "Perfected Person of the South Polar Star", the "Perfected Person of the South Polar Star" transmitted it to Guangchengzi, Guangchengzi transmitted it to the Ruler of the Winds, the Ruler of the Winds transmitted it to Wu Guang, Wu Guang transmitted it to Shun, who played it to make a qin, and to transmit it to Yu. After this is sometimes increased, sometimes diminished. During the Jin Sun Deng used it to achieve the Dao but did not transmit it to anyone. Ruan Sizhong (Ruan Ji) achieved some of this but afterwards it was not heard of much (translation tentative).

23. 沈括，筆談 Shen Gua, Bitan (V/378)
    Shen Gua (1030 - 1093; see Wiki, Shen Kuo) was a polymath and statesman whose best known writings were in his Dream Pool Essays (夢溪筆談 Mengxi Bitan; 5935.105, Wiki and #45 below), Dream Pool (5935.104 夢溪：江蘇丹陽朱方門外) being the name of his estate in what is now the outskirts of Zhenjiang city in Jiangsu province. He apparently owned it for many years before he could go there: he had often dreamed of it, hence the name Mengxi, literally "Dream Brook". The present selections have 5 subtitles but only four sections: #4 and #5 are combined.
    1. 廣陵散辨 Guangling San Bian

       盧氏雜說漢皋謂嵇康庚琴曲.... Lu Shi, Zashuo (see #20 above); concerns Han Gao and Guangling San (see also #52 below).

    2. 吳音感莫 Wu Yin Gan Mo

       高郵人桑景舒性知音聽百物之聲.... Concerns 桑景疏 Sang Jingshu and the melody 虞美人操 Yumeiren Cao (see in qin setting)

    3. 趙公龜琴 Zhao Gong Gui Qin

       趙閱道為成都轉運使出行部唯攜一龜一琴坐.... Zhao Yuedao plays qin while looking at a turtle.

    4. 女善琴詩 Nü Shan Qin Shi

       毗陵郡士人家有一女姓李氏方年十六歲....A teenage woman poet surnamed 李 Li writes a poem 拾得破錢 Shi De destroys his money. Also mentions Wang Wei and Guangling San

    5. 廣陵散潑攦聲 Guangling San Poli Sheng

       或說嘗有人觀畫彈琴圖，曰，此彈廣陵散也。此或可信。廣陵散中有數聲他曲皆無。如潑攦聲之類是也。

    He also wrote some essays on music.

24. 外史檮杌 Waishi Taowu: Tales of a Blockhead (V/378-9)
    5879.44; 16076.1: fabulous beast; book from ancient Chu
    Three selections but one title: 文錫琴婚 Wenxi's Qin Marriage (for #2)
    1. 任如元字子沖樂安人也。心計籌策出於眾人事王建累.... Concerns Ren Ruyuan (Bio/xxx)

    2. 毛文錫字平珪唐太僕卿龜範之子.... Mao Wenxi (10th c; Bio/278; poet), fleeing disorder goes to Sichuan, where he meets a lady who also likes qin; he seduces her with the song Feng Qiu Huang and they marry

    3. 黃彬字溫其成都人。美風姿幼年嘗過麗春坊群妓投以龍.... Concerns Huang Bin (Bio/2069xxx)

25. 大周正樂記 Account of the Correct Music of Zhou (V/379)
    • 杞梁妻援琴 (5953.625/xxx); The wife of Qi Liang plays qin

      杞梁妻者齊邑人。杞梁殖妻之所作也。莊公龍莒殖戰而死莊公還遇其妻於路....

26. 琴書遺編 Qin Writings, a Valued Tome (V/379)
    21570.xxx;
    • Selection untitled; tells a story about 王昭君 Wang Zhaojun

      王昭君漢元帝時候獻入後宮。帝以妻單于昭君心念鄉土乃作怨曠之歌。曰，秋木菨菨，其葉菨黃....

27. 揚雄，琴清英 Yang Xiong (53 BCE - 18 CE), Qin Qing Ying (V/379)
    Earliest book on qin, but it survives only in fragments; two selections
    1. 荀息琴悲 Xun Xi (Warring States period; 31659.27) plays qin (making 晉王 the King of Jin) sad

       晉王謂荀息曰，子鼓琴能察人悲乎？.... (an almost verbatim match to the story of 孫息 Sun Xi; see also the story of Yongmen Zhou).

    2. 吉甫子安之操 Yin Boqi's Zi An Lament (7072.114xxx; compare Lüshuang Cao).

       尹吉甫子伯奇至孝後母諧自投江中...

28. 都頡，琴盧跋尾 Du Jie, Qinlu Bawei (V/379)
    Du Jie (11th/12th c; Bio/1842)
    • An untitled essay on listening, dated 8th month of 1101

      "善琴難。余謂善聽亦不易。得牛鳴窖中，其音中宮。雞登木上，其音中角。惟善聽乃知此....
      ....用羯鼓解穢 (use a nomad drum to explain the ugliness [?]) 建中辛已八月庚子題.

29. 杜陽，雜篇 Du Yang, Miscellaneous Essays (V/379-80)
    Du Yang (Bio/xxx)
    • 碧玉蠶絲 (24916.xxx; jasper silk fiber)

      碧玉蠶絲即永泰元年東海彌羅國所貢....
      Jasper silk fiber, in 765 CE, is what the East Sea Encompassing Country had to offer....

30. 羯鼓錄 Jiegu Lu: Deerskin-Drum Record (V/380)
    29164.7 a book by 唐南卓 Nan Zhuo (Tang; Bio/1703);
    • 花奴鮮穢

      汝陽王璡 Prince Jin of Ruyang (i.e., Huanu) was the eldest son of 寧王 the Prince of Ning (Tang dynasty; 31461.74)....

31. 耳目記 Ermu Ji: Records of Ear and Eye (V/380-1)
    29637.12xxx; two section titles are given, but they run together in one long article;
    both concern 李山甫 Li Shanfu (9th/10th c.; see poem at Folio 19B, #2)
    1. 玉亭供奉

       唐乾符中黃巢盜據兩京.... During 874 - 880, Huang Chao (rebel, d. 884) brought disorder....; 王欽 Wang Qin (Bio/xxx) of Chang'an, skilled at qin and chess....has a discussion with Li Shanfu

    2. 廣陵傳世

       Concerns transmission of Guangling San (also: 蕭(王+向 21450) Xiao Xiang?).

32. 觀宋復古畫序 Preface to Looking at a Painting by Song Fugu (V/381)
    Fugu was the style name of 宋迪 Song Di, a painter from Luoyang (see further)

33. 郡閣雅談 Jun'ge Yatan: Elegant Talk in a Prefectural Chamber (V/381)
    40284.xxx; 42903.160/2 mentions only a 秘閣雅談
    • 王元琴詩 Qin poem by Wang Yuan

      王元字文元桂林人也。苦吟風月終于貧病妻黃氏共....
      Wang Yuan (Bio/86xxx), style name Wenyuan, was from Guilin....

34. 逸史 Yishi: Anecdote (V/381-2)
    39824.18 something outside the official history
    • 蕭生遇舜鼓琴南風 Mr. Xiao meets Shun playing Nan Feng on the qin

      蕭相公復親弟少菾道不仕服食芝桂能彈琴尤善南風因遊衡湘閒以訪真侶維舟江岸見一老人....
      (Xiao Fu: 732 - 88; Bio/2098; Xiao Sheng: Yuan; fuqin xxx; qindi xxx)

35. 異文錄 Yi Wen Lu: Record of Strange Things Written (V/382)
    22369.12 yiwen, no book title; compare 異聞記 Yiwen Ji, attrib. 陳寔 Chen Shi (104 - 187; see SW)
    • 張生舜廟琴歌

      進士張生善鼓琴嗜孟子下第蒲關入舜城....

36. 熙寧雜編 Xining Zabian: Miscellaneous Accounts during 1068 - 78 (V/382)
    19672.50 Xining
    • Selection untitled; introduces then quotes a poem by Shi Yangxiu about Wen Ying;

      黃祐間館中詩筆石昌言揚休最得唐人格僧文瑩嘗攜琴訪之一詩見謝尤佳曰，鄭衛湮俗耳，....

37. 鍾惟靜，雲軒集錄 Zhong Weijing, Yunxuan Jilu (V/382)
    Zhong Weijing (Bio/xxx; 11050.xxx); Yunxian (43170.267 Cloud Carriage)
    • Selection untitled; concerns Daoist priest 臧守信 Zang Shouxin (Bio/xxx; 7215.xxx) of 江東 Jiangdong, who plays over 200 qin melodies, and also mentions 李煜 Li Yu and 朱文濟 Zhu Wenji.

      道士臧守信江東人也。奇風骨美....

38. 縉紳挫說 Jinshen Cuoshuo (V/382)
    28365.3 Red Sashes (for officials); oppressive words (?)
    • 月夜女郎琴歌 Women's qin song on a moonlit evening

      零陵掾劉諷夜投夷陵空館。月下見四女郎....
      Liu Feng (Bio/xxx) meets women who play qin with other instruments.

39. 昭德樸齋錄 Zhaode Record of Puzhai (V/382-3)
    Perhaps part of 昭德文集 Zhaode Wenji by 晁公武 Zhao Gongwu;
    Mentions Su Dongpo; see further

40. 傳奇 Chuan Qi: Transmitted Marvels (V/383)
    Chuan Qi 1040.59
    • 蕭曠彈琴過神女賦詩

      大和中處士蕭曠自洛陽東遊至孝義館....
      During dahe (5960.629 pleasant times) Retired scholar 蕭曠 Xiao Kuang (Bio/xxx) traveled east from Luoyang.... Playing qin one night he met an immortal (woman).... they exchanged poems.

41. 正一先生傳 Zhengyi Xiansheng Zhuan (V/383)
    Mr. Zheng Yi is Sima Chengzheng
    • 賜寶琴霞帔 (compare 賜以寶琴霞紋帔 in Qin Shi)
      Sima Chengzheng goes to the countryside, forms the 仙宗十友 Transcendent Group of 10 Friends, meets the emperor and gains a valuable qin. The full text here is included in a footnote to the Sima Chengzheng entry.

42. 博物志 Bowu Zhi: Record of Curiosities (V/383-4)
    By Zhang Hua (232 - 300); I don't know why this is not together with #18 above
    • 蕭(思)遇彈琴遇西施 (In 560 CE), Xiao (Si)yu (Bio/xxx) plays the qin and meets Xi Shi, (whose fabled beauty in the 5th c. BCE made the Prince of Wu so lustful that he forgot the affairs of state and so lost his country)

      蕭思遇常慕道求異人，故名思遇，字望明。言望遇神明也。即虎丘山性簡靜愛琴、書。每夜罷琴，長嘯，棲羽皆驚。常雨中坐石酣歌。忽聞扣門。思遇心疑有異。令箈侍者遙問，應日：不須問但言雨中自浣溪來及開門見一美女二青衣從之並仙容思遇加山人之服以禮見之曰適聞夫人云從浣溪雨中道遠不知乘何車輿西施曰：妾聞先生懷道潔為心亦非車輿乘風而至。思遇曰：....

43. 葆光錄 Baoguang Lu (V/384)
    32237.9-11xxx
    • 鼓琴去爪/瓜; concerns 求嬰處士 Retired Scholar Qiu Ying (Bio/xxx)
      Qiu Ying, a skilled qin player, got rid of his fingernails so the sound would be more 肉 fleshy. One gentleman didn't like this. Ying colored and said, If you enjoy that sound, why don't you use a mallet to play? The listeners laughed heartily.

      道士張生善鼓琴。嗜孟子下....

44. 金徽變化篇 Jinhui Bianhua Pian: Golden Studs Transformed (V/384)
    41049.1228 only jinhui. Here there are four short excerpts:
    1. 松風澗響 Wind in the pines and a melodious torrent

       段由夫攜琴就松風澗響之間。曰，三者皆自然之聲。正和類....
       Duan Youfu plays amidst the sounds of wind in the pines and flowing water

    2. 醉欲剖琴 Drunken desire to split open a qin

       嵇康抱琴訪山濤。濤醉欲剖琴。康曰....
       Xi Kang takes qin and wine to the mountains to visit Shan Tao. Tao is drunk and wants to split open the qin....

    3. 松節支琴 Pines rhythmically hit a qin

       白少傅支琴用胡松節。
       Shaofu (a rank) Bai hit a qin....

    4. 琴湧黑蛟 Qin flowing black dragons

       孫登琴遇雨必遊響如刃物聲。竟因大雨破作數截有黑蛟湧出。
       When it rained, Sun Deng's qin would sound like it was killing something (?)....

45. 補筆談 Bu Bitan (V/384)
    Appendix to Bitan (Mengxi Bitan?)
    • Selection: 鼓琴意得聲外 When playing the qin the meaning comes from beyond the actual sounds
      This is the source of the first part of the Qin Shi Bu entry on Yi Hai

      興國中琴待詔朱文濟鼓琴為天下第一....

46. 南都新書 Nandu Xinshu (V/384)
    2798.518-9xxx; two short excerpts
    1. Untitled

       賈魏公善琴，皆妙絕一時。 Jia Weigong (37609.xxx) played the qin well; best of his day.

    2. 調絃異香降 Plucking the strings and a strange fragrance comes down

       衛次公彈壞陵操。每調絃有異香降。
       Wei Cigong (?) played Huai Ling Cao. Every time he plucked a string a strange fragrance came down.

47. 唐語林 Tang Yulin (Compare #19 above; V/384)
    3714.335, 8 folios, by 王讜 Wang Dang (11th/12th c.; Bio/142), in style of Shishuo Xinyu; two excerpts
    1. 鼓琴猿嘯 Play the qin and a gibbon howls (or "calls out")

       獨孤常州及末年尤嗜鼓琴....
       Dugu Ji, from Changzhou (sees 李汧公之子李基 [should be 李約 Li Yue]; gibbon story)

    2. 趙璧琴術 The qin art of Zhao Bi

       趙璧彈五絃琴。人問其術。璧曰，.... Zhao Bi explains his five-string qin.

48. 真仙通鑑 Zhenxian Tongjian (V/384)
    23804.30 zhenxian a true transcendent
    • 彈獨絃琴 Playing a single-string qin

      周大賓同姜叔茂學道在句曲山。大賓有才藝，善鼓琴，能彈獨絃琴而八音和。以教糜長生、孫廣田。
      Zhou Dabin studied the Dao with 姜叔茂 Jiang Shumao.... He had two students, Mei Chengsheng and Sun Guangtian.

49. 捫虱新語 Menshi Xinyu (V/384-5)
    12503.xxx, but .17 is 捫蝨新話 Menshi Xinhua, 15 folios, by 宋，陳善 Chen Shan (12th c; Bio/1351)
    • 魚聽琴聲 Fish listen to qin sounds

      陳丈壽嘗語，予人有鑿池以牧魚.... Chen Zhangshou (Bio/xxx; 16.xxx) once said, I have a sunken pond for raising fish. (Whene he played qin over the pond, the fish came up to listen.)

50. 太平廣記 Taiping Guangji: Extended Gleanings of the Reign of Great Tranquility (V/385)
    5965.124 book in 500 folios by 李昉 Li Fang (925 - 996; ICTCL) et al; published 977 CE (see also Linru Hou)
    • 陳碎胡琴 Chen Sui Hu Qin

      唐陳子昂蜀射洪人。十年居京師，不為人知....
      (When Chen Zi'ang was living in the capital someone wanted to sell a hu qin for 100,000....)

51. 山家清供 Shanjia Qinggong (V/385)
    8043.373 has shanjia only; this essay also in Qin Fu with the author identified as Lin Hong
    林洪 Lin Hong (c. 1340-c.1400; Bio/1441: from 泉州 Quanzhou, style name 龍發 Longfa, nickname 可山; ICTCL: style name 子羽 Ziyu (善部 Shanbu?), antiquarian poet who lived mostly in his native Fujian
    • 彈琴銀絲供 Evidence for playing qin with "silver thread";
      Details of yinsi (銀絲 41252.159 silver thread array) are not clear. The story concerns 張鎡 Zhang Zi (1153 - after 1211； style name 功甫 Gongfu, nickname 約齋 Yuezhai; Bio/1248: painter and calligrapher, connected to 韓侘胄 Han Tuozhou) and an unfortunately unnamed qin player.

      張約齋鎡性善延山林湖海之士。一日午酌。數盃後命左右作銀絲供。且戒之曰﹕「調和教好，又要有味」....
      Zhang Yuezhai, "in the spirit of the hoe", enjoyed inviting in guests from the countryside. One day he had a mid-day feast. After a few cups he ordered someone nearby to make a "silver thread presentation". He also cautioned him, saying, "Blend well; also, it must have good flavor." All the guests said this would have to be tasty. Some time later he brought out a qin and invited a qin master to play the melody Li Sao. Only then did everyone realize that by silver thread he meant (not food but) qin strings, and by "blend well" he meant "tune the strings". Also, he wanted it to "have true flavor", by which he was referring to the idea of the qin writings of Tao Yuanming having true flavor. (張、中興勳家也，而能知此真味，賢矣哉 Zhang was a Meritorious Revival Officer (76.748 中興 2507.20 勳家=勳閥), so he would have realized this true flavor: a true worthy!)

52. 春渚紀聞 Chunzhu Jiwen: News from the Water's Edge on a Spring Day (V/385)
    14146.440 Book in 10 folios by 何薳 He Wei (1077 - 1145); includes sections on Dongpo, poetry, qin (see 雜書琴事一卷 Zashu Qin Shi?), etc.
    There are two stories here (a third title, 咸陽銅琴, is actually part of the first story).
    • Six Types of Qin (琴製六等 Qin Zhi Liu Deng)
      (Quotes old sources about 27 string, 13 string, 9 string, 7 string, 5 string and 1 string qins. I don't know why the 咸陽銅琴 Copper Qin of Xianyang is given a separate subtitle.) 爾雅大琴謂之離，二十七絃。舜彈五絃之琴而天下治。文武加二絃以合君臣之恩。蔡邕益之為九。漢高祖入咸陽宮得銅琴十三絃，銘之曰璠璵。馬明生僊遊見神女於玉几上彈一絃琴....
      Er Ya (said) a "big qin is called a "li"; (a note added) it had 27 strings. Shun played a five string qin and the world was well-regulated. Wen Wang and Wu Wang each added one string to harmonize master and servent. Then Cai Yong made it nine. When Han Gaozu entered Xianyang palace and obtained a 13 string copper qin (presumably the one said to have been made by Qin Shi Huang) he inscribed it 璠璵之樂 Music of Fanyu Jade. Ma Mingsheng in his immortal wanderings saw a Divine Woman on a jade bench playing a one string qin.... (the story compares this with the instruments previously mentioned).
    • Distinguishing Guangling San (廣陵散辨 Guangling San Bian)
      (Concerns Xi Kang, Han Gao, etc., but no mention of yi kuang. See also #23 above).
      廣陵散傳稱嵇中散受之神人至唐韓皋....
      

53. 高似孫，緯略 Gao Sisun Wei Lue: Weft Sketch (V/385)
    Wei Lue 28268.19, in 12 folios by 高似孫 Gao Sisun (d.1231; Bio/1996; not, as here, by 馬似孫 Ma Sisun)
    • 琴心三疊 Qinxin Sandie (21570.8 a Daoist phrase for san dan tian; see also Qin Xin)
      "The Daoist phrase 琴心三疊 refers to a technique to harmonize one's breath across the three centers of vital energy. An example of usage may be found in Li Bai's poem 廬山謠 Lushan Yao, '閑窺石鏡清我心, 謝公行處蒼苔沒, 早服還丹無世情, 琴心三疊道初成,' where purifying the heart/mind is also a step toward the three-fold harmony of qi." (Personal correspondence from Chen Zhang at Harvard University)

      Regarding:  三丹田 sandantian (1/185: abode of 精 jing，氣 qi and 神 shen)

      黃庭經 Huangting Jing (48904.576: name of various Daoist classics)
      (黃庭內景經 Huangting Neijing Jing (HTNJJ) is by 白履忠 Bai Lüzhong)
      端居 duan ju living quietly? 21570.8 quotes it as 端午 duanwu, 5th day of 5th month
      舞胎仙 wu taixian (dancing crane [30038.11 taixian = crane; quotes HTNJJ])
      梁丘子 Liang Qiuzi = 白履忠 Bai Lüzhong, early 8th c. recluse (Bio/448); wrote HTNJJ
      三疊琴心 sandie qinxin 10.1880: like thoroughly hearing the song qinxin sandie, and so confusing the boundary between oneself and other things; it quotes HTNJJ saying it is = 化胎仙 hua taixian (becoming a crane, i.e., immortal? It then quotes the poem 廬山謠 Lushan Yao (see above) by Li Bai [10.1876 sandie referred to Yangguan Sandie])
      大率 da shuai (2/1372 generally speaking; general; calendrical period [?])
      吐納 tu na 3/87 and 3359.39 Daoist 修煉 ascetic skill (exhaling bad qi): see The Immortal Exhales his Wine

      黃庭經曰，端居蕊珠十九年，琴心三疊，舞胎仙。梁丘子曰，三疊琴心，三丹田也。
      The Huangting Jing says, Living quietly at Ruizhu (palace) for 19 years, qinxin sandie, dance (become) a crane. Liang Qiuzi explains, sandie qinxin is san dan tian.
      黃庭經一曰，琴心文大率，黃庭妙處，全以三丹田為根，吐納為用也。
      The Huangting Jing also says, qinxin....(explanations welcome!)

54. 山海經 Shanhai Jing (V/385-6)
    
    • 太子長琴 "Great Child Long Zither"

      大荒西經云﹕西北海之外有....
      Passage is translated in Anne Birrell, The Classic of Mountain and Seas, Penguin, p.174: 太子長琴 "Great Child Long Lute" (should be "Zither"), living on 搖山 Yao Shan ("Mount Shake") was 始作樂 "the first to compose musical airs".

55. 神僊通鑑 Shenxian Tongjian: Lessons of Divine Transcendents (V/386)
    25211.347xxx; (seems to be a continuation of Shishuo Xinyu);
    • Selection untitled; has same information as in the biography of Yin Qiqi

      殷七七，名文祥，不知何所人也....

56. 與彥正判官書 Yu Yan Zheng Pan'guan Shu: A Letter to Department Chief Yan Zheng (V/386)
    Yanzheng 10209.15xxx
    • (Su) Dongpo (see original text)

57. 聽賢師琴 Ting Xianshi Qin (V/386)
    A letter, or part of a letter, by (Su) Dongpo, dated 1089;
    • (See original text)

58. 夷堅志 Yijian Zhi: Record of Yijian (夷堅支 must be a mistake; V/386-7)
    5977.80: Yijian, in Liezi, enquired about things;
    5977.81: a book in 50 (420!) folios by 洪邁 Hong Mai (1123 - 1202; Bio/1776; ICTCL)
    The story told here concerns Liu Guo (Bio/xxx) and Ma Gu (Wiki; she was sister of 王遠 Wang Yuan, 2nd C. CE; both were lengendary Daoist adepts; there is a qin song called Ma Gu). Versions of the story can be found online (Chinese only), but the text somewhat differs from here, especially after the opening given below (differences from one example are in bold).
    • 麻姑琴精 Qin essence of Ma Gu

      劉過，字改之，襄陽人。雖為書生，而貲產贍足。得一妾，愛之甚。淳熙甲午，預秋薦，將赴省試。臨岐期眷戀不忍行，在道賦《水仙子》一詞，每夜飲旅舍，輒使隨直小僕歌之。其語曰： 「宿酒醺醺猷自醉，回顧頭來三十里。馬兒只管去如飛，騎一會，行一會，斷送殺人山共水。是則青衫深可喜，不道恩情挵得未。....
      Liu Guo , style name Gaizhi, was from Xiangyang. Although he was a scholar, he also had enough money for support. He attained a wife, and loved her very much.... (29 lines)

59. 琴諭 Qin Yu: Qin Proclamation (V/387)
    Preface and essay by ???
    • 古今寓言 Allegories Old and New

      甚哉似是之感人易....

1. Miscellaneous Accounts
There is further information in the Preface. (V/...) refers to page numbers in Vol. V of Qinqu Jicheng.
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2. Content of the stories
Many stories such as those here concern women.
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3. moved
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4. 西京雜記 Xijing Zaji (Miscellaneous Records of the Western Capital)
Xijing Zaji (35587.198; 6 folios [130 sections?]; see ICTCL, p. 406) is a compilation attributed at various times to different people, e.g., Wu Jun of Liang, 劉歆 Liu Xin, 葛洪 Ge Hong and 蕭奔 Xiao Ben. It is a reference for a number of entries on this site, including,

1. Qin Shihuang
2. Liu Daoqing (also the Liu Daoqiang reference above)
3. Wang Zhaojun
4. Shuang Feng Li Luan.
   (Return)

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