Preface
by Zha Fuxi²
from Qinqu Jicheng, Vol. 1
Beijing, Zhonghua Shuju Chuban Faxing, 1981 ³
See also Qinpu Zhengchuan

(This handbook) in the collection of the Beijing library,⁴ printed in the Ming dynasty, (is) a specialized collection of qin tablature compiled by (the eunuch) Huang Xian of Pingle county in Guangxi province.⁵ In front there is a preface by Chen Jing⁶ dated 1546. The book is divided into two folios. At the end of the (2nd) folio is an afterword (also dated 1546) by Huang Xian. Altogether there are 42 pieces. (One has lyrics.⁷)

In my opinion this book is what is listed among the reference books in the Yuelü Quanshu of Zhu Zaiyu⁸ as the Zhang Zhu Qinpu (Qin Handbook of Zhang Zhu)⁹ Huang Xian's afterword clearly shows it is the original tablature of Zhang Zhu;¹⁰ the preface by Chen Jing clearly shows that Zhang Zhu's qin (music) was an outflowing from the Southern Song school of Xu Yu (Xu Tianmin),¹¹, (and) that there was an orderly lineage among teachers and friends; it is called the "Xumen Zhengchuan (Correct Tradition of the House of Xu).¹² Zhang Zhu, a commoner who played qin, was summoned (to the palace) by the Ming Xiaozong emperor (reign title Hong Zhi, 1488-1505) to teach the Xumen Zhengchuan to the eunuch Dai Yi.¹³ Huang Xian, also a eunuch, studied Xumen Zhengchuan from Dai Yi. The founder of the Xumen (Zhengchuan), Xu Yu, had in turn been a disciple of the Song dynasty's Guo Mian.¹⁴ This shows clearly that the Zhejiang school Xumen Zhengchuan, which inherited Guo Mian's style of taking its models from the rustic music of ordinary people, was still current among the people during the middle period of the Ming dynasty.

 
Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1. 15169.5 various nicknames; 15169.10 梧岡道人 nickname of 黃獻 Huang Xian (see below)
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2. 查阜西 Zha Fuxi; edited by 吳鉊 Wu Zhao
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3. 北京中華書局出版發行
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4. 北京圖書館; still there?
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5. 黃獻 Huang Xian
In 1496 Huang Xian (48904.1324) entered the palace and on imperial command studied literature and the qin from 戴義 Dai Yi (see below). Wugang Qinpu apparently includes melodies in the Xu tradition either as he himself played them, or as they were written in tablature in his possession (or both?). His melodies are also in Qinpu Zhengchuan.
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6. 陳經 Chen Jing
Chen Jing (42618.273/2), zi Bochang, attained jinshi during 1506-22. (?) See his preface, summarized in a footnote on the Xumen Orthodox Tradiion.
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7. Gui Qu Lai Ci, a famous song. Compare the companion volume Qinpu Zhengchuan, which has two with lyrics but in addition includes some lyrics next to melodies of the same name. The lyrics are taken from earlier handbooks, but do not seem to fit the melodies there.
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8. 朱載宇 Zhu Zaiyu
Zhu Zaiyu (1536-ca.1610) was the Ming prince who discovered equal temperament.
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9. 張助琴譜 Zhang Zhu Qin Pu
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10. 張助琴譜 Zhang Zhu
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11. 徐宇 Xu Yu (Xu Tianmin): also see Xumen Orthodox Tradiion.
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12. 徐門正傳 Xumen Zhengchuan (Xu Household Correct Tradition)
For further details see Xu Jian's Qinshi Chubian, Chapter 7.A.1.
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13. 戴義 Dai Yi
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14. 郭沔 Guo Mian
Guo Mian, style name Guo Chuwang, was born mid-12th century in Li Shui, Zhejiang province (about 200 km south of Hangzhou, then the capital). The preface to He Wu Dongtian (#25) mentions the Zixiadong Pu, a lost 12th qin handbook said to have had the transcriptions by Mao Minzhong and Xu Tianmin of performances by Guo Chuwang.
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Return to the annotated handbook list or to the Guqin ToC.