Qin Shi Chubian 6C9: Bi Luozi, Qin construction methods, and more
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Chapter Six: Song and Yuan dynasties 1
Xu Jian, Introductory History of the Qin, p. 121		 第六章﹕宋，元
許健，琴史初編，第121頁

6.C. Qin Essays 2

9. Bi Luozi,3 Zhuo Qin Fa (Qin Construction Methods, and [two other essays])4

琴論  

碧落子，斲琴法及其它  

Bi Luozi was the nickanme of Shi Ruli. He was from Yingde in Guangdong. In a Guangdong Tongzhi (local gazeteer) it said that he was, "rather intelligent, immediately understanding what he read"; and "clear about musical rules, using the qin for study." When Su Shi was sent off to Huizhou he paid a visit to (Biluozi). His Qin Construction Methods can be seen in Qinyuan Yaolü. He believed that only the Tang dynasty's Zhang Yue and Lei Zhen (presumably a member of the Lei Family) produced the correct measurements for making qin, but that it was very much insufficient "not to mention methods of tuning the sounds". Thus in his essay, in addition to giving the measurements, also presented methods of cutting the surface and tuning the sounds.

Qinyuan Yaolu also has sections called Cutting Workmens' Secrets and Construction (part of Qin Book).5 These were all made by specialists in qin making techniques. The former is divided into 20 parts, edited as rhymed instructions so that the craftsmen could more easily remember the important points. The latter carefully added instruction points regarding every working procedure and requirement for making strings and qins; the essay also includes illustrations. These all summed up the experience of the qin making art of those times, so one can see that since the Tang dynasty the qin making methods had improved.

 
(Return to the top or to the list of Song dynasty qin essays.)

 
Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1. Chapter 6 covers these dynasties (dates, capital city [modern name]):

Northern Song (960-1126; Dongjing [Kaifeng])
Liao (907-1125; Dading Fu [Daning?])
Southern Song (1127-1280; Linan Fu [Hangzhou])
Jin (1115-1260; Zhongdu [Beijing])
Yuan (1206-1280-1368; Dadu [Beijing]) (Return)

2. Translation by JT
(Return)

3. 碧落子 Biluozi
Nickname of 石汝礪 Shi Ruli.
(Return)

4. Qin Construction Methods (斲琴法 Zhuo Qin Fa)
Included in Qinyuan Yaolü (p. 60/1ff).
(Return)

5. 斲匠秘訣 and 琴書、制造。
(Return)

Return to the top or to Song-Yuan in the Qinshi Chubian outline.