Art for Qin Melodies

Qin music was predominantly a literati art, created by the same class of people who also created most surviving early Chinese painting and calligraphy (not to mention poetry). An idealized venue for appreciating music and other arts was an "elegant gathering" where like minded people could pursue the "four arts": qin, chess ("go"), books/calligraphy, and painting. Inspired by this, my own art collection focuses on works that could be used in such a context.³ I have put most of these online, adding also other relevant images as well as links to such images that I have found online.⁴ People who have my CDs and/or listen to my online recordings can thus try to recapture part of the flavor of such a gathering by looking at a related picture while listening to the music. I have also sometimes projected such images during performances. (A few are mentioned under Qin and Art.)

Here are some examples. Others may be linked only through the respective melodies. In addition, Kuian Qinpu (1660) has illustrations for 13 melodies.

Chu Ci (Songs of the South);
Four illustrated melodies, including Li Sao, Yuan You, Song Yu Bei Qiu (same theme as Jiu Bian), and Zepan Yin (same theme as Yu Fu).
Da Hujia (Nomad Reed Pipe, Long Version); also called 18 Songs of a Nomad Flute;
The 18 sections of the Shen Qi Mi Pu melody Da Hujia correspond with the 18 scenes of a long scroll originally painted in the Song dynasty.
Liu Shang (Floating Wine-Cups);
A long scroll from a rubbing depicting an event immortalized by Wang Xizhi
Qiu Hong (Wild Geese in Autumn);
The 36 sections of the Shen Qi Mi Pu melody Qiu Hong correspond with 36 scenes of an anonymous set of paintings in the Forbidden City.
Yu Ge (Fisherman's Song);
Another long scroll corresponding to sections of a qin melody.
Scenes Illustrating Poems in "Poetic Feelings of Ancient Sages"
This long scroll by Du Jin amd Jin Cong includes 11 or 12 poems and 9 related images, several of which are or can be connected to qin melodies.
Dunshi Cao (Fleeing from Society);
The famous recluse Xu You declines the temptations of power.
Guangling San (Guangling Melody);
The longest qin melody, often attributed to Xi Kang
Jiu Kuang (Wine Mad);
Drinking to avoid worldy corruption.
Huo Lin (Captured Unicorn);
A scene from the life of Confucius.
Shanzhong Si Youren (Amidst Mountains Thinking of Old Friends);
Literati officials often spent long periods away from home.
Qiuyue Zhao Maoting (Autumn Moon Shining on a Reed Pavilion);
Peaceful countryside scene.
Guanghan You (Wandering in a Lunar Palace);
A traditional Chinese view of the moon.
Guanghan Qiu (Autumn in a Lunar Palace);
Wu Gang tries to chop down a cassia tree.
He Ming Jiu Gao (Cranes Cry in the Nine Marshpools);
Dancing in the breeze; calling out to heaven.
Yi Lan (Flourishing Orchid)
An illustration from the life of Confucius
Yu Hui Tushan (Emperor Yu's Meeting at Mount Tu)
An old rubbing showing scenes from the life of Emperor Yu
Zhuang Zhou Meng Die (Zhuangzi's Butterfly Dream);
The fine line between dream and reality.
Chu Ge (Song of Chu);
Farewell my Concubine: Xiang Yu parts from Yu Ji after losing to Liu Bang in the battle to overthrow the Qin dynasty.
Qiu Hong (Wild Autumn Geese);
Geese over the grave of the Emaciated Immortal
Yangguan Sandie (Thrice Parting for Yangguan);
Includes calligraphy for the Wang Wei lyrics
Zui Weng Yin (Old Toper's Chant);
Calligraphy for Zui Weng Cao, a poem by Su Dongpo in honor of his friend Ouyang Xiu.
Xiuxi Yin (Purification Ceremony Melody);
Many paintings illustrate this famous event at Lanting pavilion
Xing Tan (Apricot Tree Forum);
The place where Confucius is said to have taught his students.
Zui Yu Chang Wan (A Drunken Fisherman Sings in the Evening);
Music more beautiful than a famous poem.
Yao Tian Sheng He (Jade Sheng Heavenly Crane);
Wangzi Qiao rides a crane
Feng Qiu Huang (A Phoenix Seeks his Mate);
A famous Chinese love story.
Zhongqiu Yue (Mid-Autumn Moon);
The brightest moon of the year.

Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

Asiapac: enjoying stories through graphic novels

1.Graphic illustrations (漫畫; in particular, those in graphic novels; compare Amar Chitra Katha)
Since ancient times graphic illustrations and graphic novels have helped people enjoy traditional stories. Many of the illustrations above fall into this category.

Today perhaps the leading example of using images to help tell Chinese traditional stories, as well as the related history and philosophy, is the work of the artist and story-teller from Taiwan 蔡志忠 Tsai Chih Chung (website; Wikipedia). Tsai's work has been published by 亞太圖書 Asiapac Books, but their website seems to suggest most of them are currently or no longer available.

Examples from Tsai Chih Chung used to illustrate melodies on this website include,

Carefree Wandering (逍遙遊 Xiaoyao You); from The Sayings of Zhuangzi, English edition. Singapore, Asiapac, 1989
Song of Jie Yu (接輿歌 Jie Yu Ge); 2 pp in the Chinese edition, English edition has only the second page.
Canon of Purity and Tranquility (清靜經 jing Jing Jing); from The Sayings of Laozi, English edition. Singapore, Asiapac, 1989.
Proximate Sage Melody (亞聖操 Yasheng Cao); from The Sayings of Confucius, who is lamenting the death of 顏回 Yan Hui, who also appears in the Zhuangzi.
Three Repetitions of Plum Blossom (梅花三弄 Meihua Sannong); from A New Account of World Tales, English Edition. Singapore, Asiapac, 1990.

As for the graphic novels that concern Zhuangzi, AsiaPac has had either several or one that has been published under several titles. Titles I have seen include:

The Sayings of Zhuangzi, the music of nature (I have a copy; translation by Goh Beng Chu)
莊子說，自然的簫聲 (title means same as previous); I haven't seen the actual book, which is only in Chinese but seems to be a more complete version of the previous.
莊子·節選 Selected Sayings of Zhuangzi (identical to previous? I also haven't seen this)
莊子，老子 Zhuangzi and Laozi (I have seen the title but not the book and am uncertain it was Asiapac.

There is also at least one animated film about Zhuangzi (漫畫莊子); it is currently available on YouTube (1.22.23) and perhaps elsewhere.

N.B., The English versions translate 琴 qin as guzheng and the drawings look more like guzheng than guqin. However, the character "箏 zheng" does not appear in the Zhuangzi.
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2. Roaming to Gather the True (采真遊 Cai Zhen You)
This calligraphy (compare 採真遊) was written by 愛新覺羅毓泉 Aisin Gioro Yuquan (1945 - ; also 愛新覺羅毓泉 Aisingioro Yuquan) during May 2008 at a studio in the Forbidden City, Beijing. (Larger size; seals)
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3. My collection
I have a particular interest in modern paintings that show evidence of the artist's training in Chinese traditional art: in this way it is similar to the policy I had when recommending groups for the Hong Kong Festival of Asian Arts. Unfortunately, it has not been easy to find affordable art along these lines that also has themes connected to those of qin melodies.
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4. Linked images
When taking images from other websites I always try to give a reference to the location of the original, include a link to the place from which I took it, and, where appropriate and possible, ask for permission. Unfortunately, many websites, particularly in China, seem to have no interest in giving credit to sources.
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