For the main introduction to this title see the commentary for the version in Xilutang Qintong (1549). Normally I reconstruct the earliest surviving version of a melody, and I have written out a transcription and studied the version here in Fengxuan Xuanpin (1539). However, because of several problmes caused by the lyrics in that earlier surviving version, the one I have actually learned is the related melody published in 1549.⁴

Although this title has earlier poetic references,⁵ tablature for it survives in only the two handbooks mentioned above.⁶ The basic story is that Li Ling, style name Shaoqing, a Han general captured in 99 BCE while fighting the Xiongnu in the area where the Gobi desert meets the Tianshan mountains, was then persuaded to work for them and never returned home. Su Wu, who with the rank of Supervisor of Dependent Countries (Dian shuguo) had been sent on a mission to the Xiongnu, was at the same time detained, but refused to serve them, instead tending sheep. Su Wu was ransomed 19 years later and returned home. His departure from Li Ling became a popular theme in literati culture.

 
Original preface

None

 
Music and Lyrics⁷
8 sections (titled)

 
Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1. Li Ling Si Han references
14819.1082 has only 李陵 Li Ling himself, no mention of music. For poetic references see below.
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2. From standard tuning lower the third string.
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3. No images online here. For more on this see also Michael Sullivan, The Three Perfections; NY, George Braziller, 1999, p.42ff.
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4. In cases such as this I need to work together with a singer.
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5. Poetic references to Li Ling Si Han
Qinshu Daquan (1591) includes at least three relevant poems,

1. one by Chen Qiuyan (13th/14th c.) that mentions the title Li Ling Si Han,
2. one by Xie Ao (1249 - 1295) that mentions a melody simply called Li Ling, and
3. one by Yun Ruo (1280 - 1359) entitled Li Ling Si Han.

The poems by Yun Ruo (which mentions 5-character verse) and Xie Ao are 7x4; that by Chen Qiuyan quite lengthy. None of these poems sheds any light on the actual music.
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6. Tracing Li Ling Si Han
Zha's Guide 16/167/363 has only two entries for Li Ling Si Han, the one here in 1539 with lyrics, and the one in Xilutang Qintong (1549), which has none. However, both the 1539 lyrics and the 1549 melody seem to have some connection to some versions of 蘇武思君 Su Wu Si Jun, which Zha Fuxi lists together with Han Jie Cao. Zha Fuxi made a recording of his reconstruction of Su Wu Si Jun.
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7. Section titles and lyrics
The original Chinese for the section titles and lyrics begin,

1. 中郎困塞

   漢貞和年，中郎將使征番。
   陳敗之間，露義膽，顯忠肝。
   孔曰﹕成仁；孟曰﹕取義；生不易，死當全，金石同堅。

2. 異俗殊風

   胡兒胡騎縱橫也，烏合醜番戎，
   陷孤忠。孤臊，孤臭，最羶腥，
   衣冠不與漢人制度相同也，殊俗總殊風。
   衣相同，不分男女烏雌雄。
   如蜂如蟻紫塞中。馳戎馬，拽彎弓，皮衣皮帽皮頦纓，
   黃沙並愁霧，風蕩也迷蒼穹。
   天教孤忠，死膻擔，可惜英雄。
   想吾皇憐子也發精兵，憂心忡忡，復忡忡。

3. 笳鼓行兵

   紫塞黃沙，弓箭胡人業，鞍馬胡人家。 ....

4. 持節不屈

5. 囓雪吞氈

6. 赫忠順虜

7. 正氣摧番

8. 思君望救

   思君王雁杳魚沉。想家邦，想那漢闕，料吾皇憶忠良，
   猶及孤臣，發援兵至此番。想孤臣有歸心，無歸期。
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