古琴
GuQin
Tradition & Contemporary
Among musical instruments, there is no distinction in hierarchy. However，there is such an instrument，which occupies a totally special position than any other kinds of music instruments in Chinese culture, music and history，surpassing other musical instruments.
That is the Guqin (a Seven-stringed instrument). the first or, most important one among the Four Liberal Arts (those are Guqin, Go, Calligraphy and painting), by which all of the Chinese literary class (literati) must be educated, or, It is compulsory for the education of a Chinese literati, that makes up an integral part of one’s life. which is the necessary composition of one’s lifestyle.
Around Guqin, a rich ideological system and practicing form have been gathered. All of these are collectively named as Qin Dao(the lore of the Guqin).
Therefore, in the ancient Chinese book "Book of Rites," it was wroten: without some special cause, people should not let the Guqin leave from themselves.
Unlike the composition of western music, Guqin masters have composed various pieces of Guqin music through the observation and close study of the pattern and rhythm of how natural universe functions, where human beings are also part of it.
While practicing with the instrument, we form a deep connection with our inner being as well as the universe through physical actions of the performer, as well as the flow of sounds on the strings.
In this way, one could achieve the union between human and the universe through the performance of this very instrument.
The aim of this very instrument is not for public performance, namely, to entertain its audience.
On the contrary, its aim is simply to be “played” or, to say, to be practice with.
While working with Guqin, a Guqin master expresses one’s emotional feelings and communicates with one’s inner state of being through the sound of the instrument, and then let the music guides, transcend and transform his or her inner world.
In this way, Guqin is part of a daily ritual for a Guqin-er.
Therefore, it is also an instrument very much connected with individual life experience as well as personal emotions. Only those who shares the same spiritual path (/goal) of life is capable to attain a deep comprehension of another’s Guqin music. In this way, dear friends often gather together on a Guqin ceremony, and communication with each other through this spiritual instrument.
The Qin Dao (the lore of the Guqin) values very much the impact of the environment for its the performance. Guqin masters normally choose carefully the place where they work with this instrument, either in a well-decorated room specially made for Guqin, or in the peaceful and serene nature, such as valley, woods, or the bank of a beautiful river.
That is because the style of Guqin varies much from the western music, as the fluidity and alteration (?) Of the music appears to be unpredictable.
It does not follow any fix style of performance. Each performance processes a distinctive quality/ varies according to the inner state of the Guqin master as well as the surroundings at the moment.
It follows the chaos and orders of the natural universe as well as the physical being of humans.
Thus we could say, Guqin is not only an instrument for music, but also an instrument of Dao.
Dao is one of the most crucial cultural concepts of the Chinese civilization.
Compared with western musicians, Guqin masters pay much more attention to the “gap” between the notes, and thus to realise the balance between sound and silence, being and non-being, already appeared and the non-manifested, the Yin and Yang through their performance.
The ethereal, incomprehensible or unpredictable Guqin music contains Guqin master's understanding or experience of Dao.
According to ancient legend, Guqin is created by Fuxi, a Saintly king who also created the Ba Gua (the systematic way of comprehending natural phenomena and human affairs which is collected in the Book of Changes/ I-Ching).
Chinese condensed their cosmology and the symbols of culture on Guqin.
It contains the symbols of Dao and Qi, the flow of time, the expansion of space, Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, the Sun and the Moon, the Stars, the seasons, the mountains and seas, the civilisations, the rituals, the souls and our physical bodies…..
For a Guqin-er, with a piece of Guqin in hand very much equals to attaining a dear friend, as well as possessing one’s own piece of universe.
One could find all philosophical as well as practices systems of all three major traditions of Chinese culture, Confucianist, Daoist as well as Buddhist traditions.
For the Practitioner of these three, practicing Guqin is an important way to embody the doctrines and to meditate with the instrument in order to evoke a deep state of tranquility as well as experience directly the transcendence.
Is Guqin a Musicial instrument?
An instrument for Dao?
or a lifestyle?
No matter how people understand it, with a few pluck at the string of Guqin, its sound will make you intoxicated and open your ears and heart to communicate with the it.
With Guqin , make your own sounds.