Ke Shang Cao

The lyrics here are the same as those under this title in Yuefu Shiji. They are attributed to Wu Wang (King Wu), but they consist of only nine characters. The qin melody is said to be quite old,⁴ but the only other handbook to have this title, Chongxiu Zhenchuan Qinpu (1585), has as similar melody, repeated once.⁵

The commentary in Taigu Yiyin largely follows that of Yuefu Shiji, adding a comment about Confucius.

Original preface⁶

As for this melody, Wu Wang was about to pacify the disorder of the Yin (i.e., Shang) dynasty, and he used lyrics to openly inform God.

Music Records Old and New ⁷ says, "Wu Wang defeated (the Yin ruler) Zhou and so wrote this song."

Qin Treatise ⁸ says, "As for Ke Shang, at the time Wu Wang was defeating Zhou he wrote this."

Qin Collection ⁹ also says, "As for Ke Shang, Wu Wang defeated Zhou and wrote it himself."

The text, of which we have no more than nine characters, has only some words telling heaven about his punishing (Zhou). Our master (Confucius) said, "Wu's (music) was perfectly beautiful, but not perfectly good." This is what he was talking about.

Music and Lyrics: One section¹⁰
-Nine syllables (5+4) set to 10 notes.

Announcing up to high heaven,
can one begin?

Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1. Ke Shang Cao 剋商操
2035.15 Qin melody in Yuefu Shiji
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2. Tuning and mode
Taigu Yiyin does not group melodies by tuning or mode.
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3. Image
Not yet selected.
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4. Seng Juyue (the monk Ju Yue) listed a 克商操 Keshang Cao among the "Most ancient melodies".
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5. See Qinqu Jicheng, Vol.4, p.404. It is copied out twice instead of simply giving instructions to repeat. Was this to try to make it look longer?
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6.
Original text not yet online.
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7. 古今樂錄 Gu Jin Yuelu.
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8. 琴論 Qin Lun, by Xie Zhuang.
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9. 琴集 Qin Ji.
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10. The original lyrics consist only of the following:

上告皇天兮，可以行乎。
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