Translation of the Miao Xiushi biography in Qin Shi Xu:
Miao Xiushi, styled Yanshi, was a native of Pingyang.
While still a youth, he was esteemed by Zhan Junzhang, who ordered that his own son, Yude Rong, share the same study mat with him.
Junzhang was deeply learned in letters and also thoroughly versed in musical theory; he taught both Xiushi and Derong the art of the qin.
When first teaching finger techniques, he would stack coins on the back of the hand, forbidding light or careless movement; even a single tone they did not dare to add to or diminish arbitrarily.
From this, Xiushi became consummately skilled at the qin and was the foremost player of his time.
During the 泰和 Taihe era (1200–1208, in the Jin dynasty), someone recommended him to the imperial ancestral temple; thus he obtained an appointment attending court in the Hanlin Academy.
He had not long resided in the capital before his reputation flourished greatly; princes and high ministers invited him constantly, without a single idle day.
Whenever Yelü Chucai obtained a new score, he would invariably discuss its subtle meanings with him before playing it.
In later years, Xiushi took the sobriquet "Old Qiyan": Elder of Cliff Dwellers”.
He once selected over a hundred pieces of manipulations and airs transmitted from the ancients, distinguishing which were refined (ya) and which were licentious (zheng), choosing those that possessed ancient spirit and compiling them into a collection titled Qin Bian (“Discriminations on the Qin”).
Yuan Yishan (Yuan Haowen) composed a preface for Qin Bian.
Later, when Chucai served the Yuan, he recommended Xiushi. An imperial decree was issued to seek him out in Bianliang; he was found there, but died on the way (to court).
(Sources):
Hai Hong Liao Sui Mo”
Chun Hu Man Lu (Casual Notes from Chun Lake)
The original text of the entry is as follows:
苗秀實，字彥實，平陽人。童丱中為展君章所器，命其
子宇德容與同硯席。君章文學深博兼通音律，教秀
實與德容琴事。初授指法，纍錢手背以輕肆為禁，至
一聲不敢妄增損。由是秀實遂精於琴，為當代第一。
泰和間有薦於章廟者，因得待朝翰林。居京師未久，
而聲譽籍甚，王公大人邀請無虛日。耶律楚材每得
新譜，必與之商搉妙意而後彈之。秀實晚號棲巖老
人。嘗選古人所傳操弄百餘篇，辨其孰雅孰鄭，取有
古意者纂集之，名曰《琴辦》。元遺山為作《琴辦引》。後楚
材仕於元，薦秀實，下詔物色之於汴梁，得焉，中道而
卒。
海紅寮碎墨
蓴湖滿綠
Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a
separate page)
1.
See also Xu Jian
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2.
11 lines
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3.
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