Chun Jiang

This melody, which survives only in Xilutang Qintong, has no musical or thematic relationship to the Chunjiang Qu first found in Taigu Yiyin (1511).⁴ The earlier one, surviving in at least eight handbooks, is connected to poems in the old Yuefu Shiji. The one in Xilutang Qintong relates a story about Fan Li,⁵ a minister of Yue during the Warring States period. Perhaps it is not a coincidence that at about the time Xilutang Qintong was published (1549), there were several very popular operas (discussed below) telling the story of a love affair between Fan Li, fabled for his wealth as well as power, and Xi Shi, one of China's most famous beauties.⁶

In his Annals of the Historian, Sima Qian tells of Fan Li as minister to Gou Jian, who became King of Yue in 498 BCE. After Gou Jian defeated the King of Wu, Fan Li retired from office. His subsequent riches made his nickname Tao Zhu Gong into a phrase suggesting great wealth.

The stories connecting Fan Li to Xi Shi are also apparently quite ancient.⁷ It is said that one of Fan Li's strategies was to have Gou Jian send Xi Shi to King Fuchai of Wu,⁸ thus distracting him from affairs of state. King Fuchai ignored warnings about this from his advisor, Wu Zi Xu.⁹ After Gou Jian's inevitable victory, Fan Li and Xi Shi ran off together.

The preface to Chun Jiang here in Xilutang Qintong does not mention Xi Shi, saying only that after Yue defeated Wu, Fan Li retired from office and relaxed on a boat in the Five Lakes, an apparent reference to Lake Taihu east of Suzhou.¹⁰ The preface gives no indication of the origins of this story, but the connection to the titles and stories of several operas seems more than coincidental.

For example, the opera Wandering on the Five Lakes by Wang Daokun (1525-1593)¹¹ relates the story of Fan Li and Xi Shi, after Gou Jian defeats Yue, traveling together as lovers on the Five Lakes. Here they meet two fishermen who sing a Fisherman's Song. By the singing Fan Li realizes the men are recluses, not ordinary fishermen.

Perhaps more important is another opera on this theme, Washing Silk Tale, by Liang Chenyu (ca. 1521 - ca. 1594).¹² The popularity of this opera helped the new Kunqu opera singing style become widely popular.

As yet it is unclear how the name Chun Jiang is connected to this theme.¹³ The title probably suggests a river in springtime, not the actual name of a river. Also, the word "spring" (like the season) is often associated with romance.

Original Preface¹⁴

Fan Li ruled Yue and pacified Wu, and so (was able to) excuse himself (from office and) relax on the Five Lakes, and see the clouds while enjoying a boat, paddling in the waves at springtime (?). Binding himself (already?) in his "retirement after meritorious service", shrewdly seeing the opportunities, and so giving himself over to the qin in order to achieve his aims.

Music (10 sections, untitled)

Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1. Chun Jiang references
14146.67 and 5/642 春江 chun jiang refer only to a river in spring; it does not seem to be the name of any river (although Chun Jiang is also short for 富春江 Fuchun Jiang, a river near Hangzhou). They do not mention the poems used with Chunjiang Qu.

Also, this title seems to have no connection to 春江花月夜 Chun Jiang Hua Yue, for which Yuefu Shiji has several sets of lyrics (pp.678-680), most famously by 張若虛 Zhang Ruoxu (c.660-c.720).
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2. For further information on shang mode see Shenpin Shang Yi and Modality in Early Ming Qin Tablature.
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3. This image is from an illustrated Ming dynasty Liexian Quanzhuan, which developed out of the Han dynasty Liexian Zhuan.
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4. Zha's Guide 14/150/267 groups them all together.
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5. 范蠡 Fan Li (5th c. BCE; see image)
Fan Li (31472.285; biography also in Liexian Zhuan), from Yue (an ancient region extending south from the area around modern Hangzhou), became (with 文種 Wen Zhong as chief advisor on civil matters) the chief advisor on military matters to 句踐 Gou Jian, who became King of Yue in 496 BCE; the capital city was Kuaiji (near modern Shaoxing). At the time Yue was at war with 吳 Wu (capital near modern Suzhou). Shi Ji, Book 41 (Gou Jian) relates the advice of Wen Zhong and Fan Li, basically to be prudent. As a result of their advice Yue finally defeated Wu 22 years later. At this point Fan Li told Wen Zhong that although Gou Jian was good to them in times of trouble, he would not be so in times of peace. Fan Li then left Yue. His subsequent activies are recorded in Shi Ji, Book 129 (Money Makers). Here it says (see also 31472.286 范蠡泛湖 Fan Li Floats on a Lake) that Fan Li sailed away a boat, going to 齊 Qi (northern Shandong), where he became known as 鴟夷子皮 Zhiyi Zipi (Accommodating Old Wine-Skin). After this he went to 陶 Tao (Dingtao in western Shandong), where he was called 朱公 Zhu Gong (Lord Zhu. Here he amassed a great fortune, which he passed on to his childen; "Tao Zhu Gong" thus came to mean "millionaire".
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6. 西施 Xi Shi
Xi Shi is one of the "Four Famous Beauties" of China. At her supposed birthplace 諸暨 Zhuji, about 50 km southwest of Shaoxing, there is a temple and other constructions built in her honor. 35587.308 Xi Shi (reference 吳越春秋，句踐陰謀外傳) tells of Fan Li having Xi Shi sent to 王夫差 King Fuchai of Wu in order to distract him. She succeeded, with the result that the Fuchai eventually lost his kingdom. By Taihu Lake near Suzhou is a 琴臺 qin terrace she is said to have used; this is perhaps related to the story of her relaxing in a boat on Taihu with Fan Li.
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7. The earliest known version apparently comes from 吳越春秋 Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu and Yue (a Latter Han compilation)
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8. 吳王夫差 King Fuchai of Wu's main advisor 伍子胥 Wu Zi Xu (see next footnote) warned the king against this distraction, but the king ignored him and eventually lost his kingdom.
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9. Wu Zi Xu 伍子胥 (6th c. BCE)
This name is also written Wuzi Xu, Wu Zixu and Wu Xu. See Shi Ji #5 (GSR I, p.104) and his main biography in #66 (GSR VII, p. 49). In a footnote to the latter, Nienhauser explains that he has "Wu Zi Xu" because his name seems to be Wu Xu, with the Zi as an honorific. King Ping of Chu murdered Wu's father and brother. In seeking revenge Wu met resentment leading to his being slandered to King Fuchai (see previous footnote) and eventually made to commit suicide. See also Nienhauser's Translator's Note, GSR VII, p. 61, and Wu's connection with Huzi. Old qin melody lists use his name as a melody title (see Zi Xu Yin and Wu Zi Xu) and comments here on the melody Chun Jiang (see King Fuchai) mention him in connection to a story involving the famous beauty 西施 Xi Shi. He is sometimes referred to as Shuixian.
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10. 262.790 五湖 Five Lakes mainly makes reference to Lake Dongting in Hunan and Lake Taihu in Zhejiang. However, there are several others as well. Because of Fan Li's association with the state of Yue, Taihu is the most obvious intention.
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11. 262.795 五湖遊 Wandering on the Five Lakes says it is 劇曲名 the name of an opera (also called 五湖記 Story of Five Lakes) about Fan Li by 汪道昆 Wang Daokun (1525-1593; Bio/1144). The story is outlined in LXS, p.186. By coincidence, at this same Xilutang Qintong introduced a new qin melody called 漁歌 Fisherman's Song, perhaps also associated with Tai Hu.
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12. Washing Silk Tale (浣紗記 Wansha Ji or Huansha Ji), a 昆曲 Kunqu by 梁辰魚 Liang Chenyu (ca. 1521 - ca. 1594; Bio/2222); also called 吳越春秋 Wu Yue Chun Qiu. Xi Shi was originally a simple girl who made a living washing clothes. The story as outlined in LXS, pp. 257/8, focuses more on Xi Shi being sent to the King of Wu; only at the end do Fan Li and Xi Shi go off to find pleasure floating on a boat in a lake. See also William Dolby, A History of Chinese Drama, p.92.
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13. Why "Chun Jiang"?
LXS has no title 春江 Chun Jiang, nor do the opera accounts mention this name. And the YFSJ Chun Jiang poems do not seem to mention or allude to Fan Li and Xi Shi.
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14. The original Chinese is:
范蠡霸越平吳，因託五湖之遊，見煙靄迷舟，春湖拍浪。束己(已?)之攻成身退，明哲見機，乃付之徽軫以見志焉。
(春湖 14146.443 a lake in springtime)
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