Xiao Xiang Yeyu (Night Rain over the Xiao and Xiang Rivers), acquired by 沈興順 Benny Shum Hing Shun in 1995, was loaned to me for the recording of Music Beyond Sound. The qin had been repaired shortly before the recording. According to Mr. Shum, the shape and seeming age of the wood imply Song dynasty construction, although it is quite round on top, typical of the Tang dynasty (618-907). Although typical Song dynasty instruments tend to be flatter, there were also many made in Tang style. The Ming dynasty repair assumption is due to the lacquer being mixed with powdered cement, rather than powdered deer horn -- this latter typical of the Ming dynasty.

The instrument was formerly in the collection of Ma Shouluo, who drew the sketches of the instrument shown at right.¹ He also wrote the following on a piece of paper which he glued to the back of the qin:²

Xiao Xiang Ye Yu is also the name of one of the 8 Views of Xiao and Xiang as well as of a qin melody.

 
Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1. 馬壽洛 Ma Shouluo (1869—1962)
A qin player from 溫州 Wenzhou whose handbook 春晖堂琴谱 Chunhuitang Qinpu is said to have included a number of his own qin melodies. However, this handbook is related to the handbook 友石山房琴譜 Youshi Shanfang Qinpu (Qing dynasty; XXVII/437), attributed to his ancestor 馬元熙 Ma Yuanxi (馬蘭笙 Man Lansheng, 1834~1907).
(Return)

2. Original text of the inscription
Unfortunately I cannot now find the original Chinese version.
(Return)

Return to GuqinToC