Ping Sha Luoyan

This earliest surviving version, called Yan Luo Pingsha, is a relatively unornamented melody in five sections. It is said to be in jiao mode, but for most of the melody the tonal center is the open 2nd or 7th string (la), giving it more the characteristic a yu mode melody. Several sections end on do, as does the whole melody. This is something not uncommon in early melodies.

Xu Jian writes about Pingsha Luoyan in his Qinshi Chubian, 7.A.. He discusses possible connections with Chen Zi'ang, Mao Minzhong, Tian Zhiweng and Zhu Quan (see Qiu Hong).

In fact, though, there seem to be no apparent melodic connections with any of the earlier melodies that concern geese.

Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1 Pingsha Luo Yan (IX/313) (Return)

2 Standard tuning 5 6 1 2 3 5 6 in some other modes is considered as 1 2 4 5 6 1 2. For further information on jiao mode see Shenpin Jiao Yi and Modality in Early Ming Qin Tablature. (Return)

3 Kuian Qinpu illustration (QQJC XI/61)
To the right of the illustration is a name and seal saying 黃仕 Huang Shi (Mr. Huang; Wu Zhao's preface gives no further identification. Compare the illustration for Yan Guo Hengyang. (Return)

4 Zha's guide 32/245/477 (Return)

5 QQJC, Vol. IX, p. 313 (Return)

6 (Return)

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