Feiming Yin was quite a popular title during the Ming dynasty, surviving in 15 handbooks to 1623; afterwards it is found only in 1670, 1691 and 1876 (a copy of 1691). In the eight handbooks to 1552 it always precedes Qiu Hong. Then in 1579 Wuyin Qinpu introduced a quite modified version of Feiming Yin, not accompanied by Qiu Hong. Later versions, whether or not so paired, are often related to this one.

Although Zhu Quan says the creator of the melody is unknown, the editor of Zheyin Shizi Qinpu (supposedly Zhu Dianpei, Zhu Quan's grandson) says Zhu Quan himself wrote it. Yuwu Qinpu (1589) attributes it to Guo Chuwang of the Song dynasty.²

The reference to visiting (being a guest in) the south is said to be an allusion to the Song court having been forced to move south from Kaifeng to Hangzhou by the northern Jin kingdom. This allusion was also popular with other regimes which felt they were separate from their rightful homeland, as well as with individuals away from home. The later piece Pingsha Luo Yan is said also to contain this allusion.

There are no other recordings.

Original Preface

The Emaciated Immortal says

it is not known who wrote this piece, but what the piece concerns is speaking of the wild goose as an animal who, knowing that autumn (is arriving), visits the south. It cries out to the Milky Way, and flies through the clouds for 10,000 li, soaring over the four seas. How great its determination is! So (the melody) embellishes this event while describing it.

Three sections
(Titles from Zheyin Shizi Qinpu)³

(00.00) 1. Knowing autumn ()
(00.52) 2. Bursting through the clouds ()
(01.35) 3. Visiting the south ()
(01.58) -- harmonics
(02.09) -- Piece ends

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Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1 飛鳴吟 44974.237 飛鳴 flying while calling. Gives poetic references in Wen Xuan (Pan Yue 潘岳 Pheasant Shooting Rhapsody) and Su Dongpo Hou Chibi Fu. (Return)

2 See biographical information at Shen Qi Mi Pu, A General Introduction. (Return)

3 The Chinese titles are: 1. 知秋; 2. 決雲; 3. 南賓 (Return)

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