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03. Going for Shoes under the Bridge
- gong mode,2 standard tuning: 5 6 1 2 3 5 6
圯橋進履 1
Yi Qiao Jin Lü
Zhang Liang meets Huangzhi Gong 3  
This melody concerns an incident which led to Zhang Liang becoming the chief strategist guiding Liu Bang in his effort to establish a new dynasty. The origin of the story is Chapter 55 of the Book of History, the biography of Zhang Liang, Marquis of Liu.4 Zhang Liang's countryside and family were destroyed by the Qin. When Zhang's attempt to assassinate the emperor failed he went into hiding in Xiapei. One day while walking by himself he saw an old man deliberately drop his shoe down an embankment. The old man asked Zhang to fetch it, then put it on him. Zhang Liang swallowed his initial resentment and did it. In return the old man (later said to be named Lord of the Yellow Stone5) said Zhang Liang could be taught, and asked him to return at dawn five days later. When Zhang Liang did so the old man was already there, berating him for being late. This was repeated three times until Zhang Liang finally got there at midnight. At this point the old man gave Zhang Liang a book and said that with it he could be come the teacher of kings. Zhang Liang read the book, which was called Tai Gong's Art of War.6 This is what enabled him eventually help Liu Bang establish the Han dynasty.

Altogether Yi Qiao Jin Lü, with some variations in the title, can be found in about 38 handbooks from here in Feng Xuan Xuan Pin (1539) to 1994.7 This earliest surviving version has three titled sections and lyrics. The lyrics tell the story from Zhang Liang's point of view.

The earliest surviving commentary is the afterword to the second version, in Xilutang Qintong (1549); it says that the Marquis of Liu was so moved by the events along the embankment that he wrote this melody. The 1549 version has seven sections, as do most later versions. Beginning with Wuzhizhai Qinpu (1722) it is sometimes identified as a beginner's piece.

The final appearance is in an introductory qin book published in 1994, but at present no recordings are available. I have written out a transcription but not learned to play it properly.

 
Original preface

None8

 
Music
Three sections, titled, with lyrics9

1. Arrogantly Testing the Sage (Ao Man Shi Xian)
2. Offering Hard Work, Respecting the Aged (Gong Qin Jing Lao)
3. Learning from an Outstanding Book (Shou Yi Qi Shu)
        harmonics
        end

 
Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1. Yi Qiao Jin Lü 圯橋進履 (QQJC II/67)
4991.xx
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2. Gong mode (宮調 gong diao)
For further information on gong mode see Shenpin Gong Yi and Modality in Early Ming Qin Tablature.
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3. Image: (張良 Zhang Liang earns respect from) 黃石公 Huangshi Gong
The illustration here of Zhang Liang helping Huangshi Gong with his shoes is from 中國的神仙 Immortals in Ancient China, p. 96.
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4. Zhang Liang (張良, d. 187 BCE)
Zhang Liang's biography is in Shi Ji, Annal 55. See Burton Watson, tr, Records of the Grand Historian, Han Dynasty I; HK, 1993, p.100. Zheyin Shizi Qinpu credits Zhang Liang with having created the melody Chu Ge.
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5. Huangshi Gong 黃石公
Literally, Lord of the Yellow Stone. 48904.147 tells the story with reference to Shi Ji 55, Han Shu 40 高士傳中. In Shi Ji the old man prophesizes success for Zhang Liang, adding that Zhang Liang will see him again in 13 years: as a yellow stone at the foot of 濟北穀城山 Mt. Gucheng in Jibei.
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6. 太公兵法 Taigong Bingfa. No further information.
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7. Tracing 圯橋進履 Yi Qiao Jin Lü
Zha Fuxi's Guide 15/157/345 gives four variant titles: 進履 Jin Lü, 圯橋進履 Yi Qiao San Jin Lü, 圯橋授書 Yi Qiao Shou Shu and 圯上進履 Yi Qiao San Jin Lü. The first ten versions are as follows:

  1. 1539 (above; 3 sections; lyrics; II/67)
  2. 1549 (7 sections; III/67)
  3. 1579 (6 sections; IV/200)
  4. 1585 (Jin Lü; 7 sections; lyrics; IV/333)
  5. 1590 (3 sections; V/472)
  6. 1596 (4 sections; VI/188)
  7. 1611 (7 sections; VII/363)
  8. 1620 (7 sections; IX/27)
  9. 1634 (Yi Qiao San Jin Lü, 7 sections; IX/287)
  10. late Ming (6 sections; IX/404)
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8. Commenatary
The earliest surviving commentary is in 1549; see above.
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9. Original Chinese section titles and lyrics
The original section titles and the beginning of the lyrics of each section are as follows:

  1. Arrogantly Testing the Sage (傲慢試賢 Ao Man Shi Xian)
    螮蝀圯兮難為行。斯時猶木徒杠成....
  2. Offering Hard Work, Respecting the Aged (恭勤敬老 Gong Qin Jing Lao)
    圯橋將斷兮往來....
  3. Learning from an Outstanding Book (授以奇書 Shou Yi Qi Shu)
    吾觀孺子恭而謙,天賦氣禀全....
    (Return)

Return to the annotated handbook list or to the Guqin ToC.