The only other occurrence of this piece is in CXZCQP (1585; same lyrics, related melody).⁴ There are, however, several pieces (in particular, Weibin Yin⁵) dealing with the virtuous person extolled herein, Lü Shang,⁶ commonly called Tai Gong or Taigong Lü, said to have been a high official who broke his sword and retired into voluntary exile to avoid serving the tyrannous last Shang emperor, Zhou Xin.⁷ After Wen Wang (King Wen), who was serving as Chief of the West for the Duke of Zhou, enticed Lü out of exile, Lü helped Wen's son Wu Wang (King Wu) overthrow the Shang and establish the Zhou dynasty (ca. 1122 BCE).⁸

Here Shi Xian is grouped with zhi mode melodies presumably because the main note is the open fifth string (called zhi). According to my understanding of the melodies in Shenqi Mipu, the relative tuning for zhi mode melodies is 1 2 4 5 6 1 2; the main note is played as 5 (so), and the secondary note is 2 (re).

A transcription of Shi Xian into staff notation using the open first string as C (1) keeps 5 and 2 as the main and secondary notes. However, it also shows numerous occurences of B flat. To avoid these accidentals would require transcribing the open first string as G (5), making the tuning 5 6 1 2 3 5 6 . In this case the main note of Shi Xian becomes 2 and the secondary note 6. The only mode in SQMP having this characteristic is Qiliang mode, which uses non-standard tuning.

The thematically connected melody Weibin Yin is also grouped with zhi mode melodies. When transcribed using the open first string as C (1) it also has 5 and 2 as the main and secondary notes, and it also shows numerous occurences of B flat. Again these can be avoided by considering the relative tuning to be 5 6 1 2 3 5 6 (i.e., the open first string becomes G). However, such a transcription then brings numerous occurences of the note F (4).⁹

 
Zheyin Shizi Qinpu preface:¹⁰

The Beyond-Sounds Immortal says, this melody was written by Wen Wang. The Royal Ancestor's Handbook does not have this melody.

According to what the Record of History (Chapter 32) says,

And so there is this piece. The meaning which comes from (it) is: respect virtuous people. Its meaning is profound.

 
Music¹¹
Sections titles:

00.00   1. (Wen Wang) appoints officials insisting only that they be worthy
00.44   2. He helps people and encourages the gentry
01.02   3. (When Wen Wang is) about to look for (officials) he finds a good omen
01.35   4. A successful meeting between (Wen Wang) and (Lü Shang)
02.03   5. (Wen Wang) goes to consult a wise man, and takes his advice
02.38   6. (Lü Shang is happy to) take a post and give advice
03.09   7. (Lü Shang was Wen Wang's) late father's great hope
03.34   8. Heaven blesses the Zhou dynasty
03.52       Closing harmonics
04.05       End

 
Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1 師賢 Shi Xian 9129.176xxx (seems unconnected) (Return)

2 For more information about 徵調 zhi mode see Shenpin Zhi Yi. For modes in general see Modality in Early Ming Qin Tablature. However, having studied the melody Weibin Yin, I have been re-evaluating my analysis for certain melodies. See also the comments in the text above. (Return)

4 See Zha Fuxi's Guide, 11/116/198. For 1585 see QQJC IV, p.449 (Return)

5 Weibin Yin, however, is paired instead with Si Shun (Return)

6 呂尚 Lü Shang, commonly called 太公. (Return)

7 紂辛 Zhou Xin (Return)

8 文王 Wen Wang; 周西伯 Zhou's Chief of the West; 武王 Wu Wang; 周公 Zhou Gong (Return)

9 To transcribe Weibin Yin so that it most closely approaches standard pentatonic tuning requires considering the relative tuning to be 2 3 5 6 7 2 3 . The main note is then la, the secondary note mi. (Return)

10 The original Chinese preface can be seen under 師賢. (Return)

11 The original Chinese section titles can be seen under 師賢. The original lyrics are not yet online. (Return)

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