The main commentary for this melody is with the earliest surviving version of this melody, which is in Fengxuan Xuanpin (1539). That version has lyrics, so I have learned the only other surviving version, in Xilutang Qintong, which has none.⁴

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.

Modally the scale is predominantly do re mi so la with the main tonal center being la and secondarily mi. However, the last phrase in Section 9 ends with the note sequence mi flat - re - do. Then the closing harmonics, which are written out but are identical to those in the modal prelude, also end on and use do as the tonal center.

 
Original Preface⁵

Li Shaoqing lost his ambition amongst the fur (-wearing Xiongnu), and had no way to give expression to his loneliness and resentment. When Su Wu returned home (Li Ling) had a melancholy yearning for the homeland; this brought out his moral loftiness. 100 generations later, just hearing these sounds still causes people's hat and hair to stand on end (in alarm).

 
Music (Nine sections, titled)⁶

 
Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1 14819.1082 has only 李陵 Li Ling himself, no mention of music. (Return)

2 From standard tuning lower the third string. (Return)

3 See also Michael Sullivan, The Three Perfections; NY, George Braziller, 1999, p.42ff. (Return)

4 Zha's Guide 16/167/363 has only two entries for Li Ling Si Han, the one in 1539 with lyrics, and the present one, 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. (Return)

5 I haven't found a source for the original preface, which is as follows:
李少卿失志氈裘，莫攄孤憤。其於典屬國之歸，淒然懷土；此其清也。百世之下一聞其音，猶將使人冠髮上指。
(Return)

6 The original titles are:

1. 材騎
2. 扼虍
3. 河梁
4. 入塞
5. 窮追
6. 矢盡
7. 懷鄉
8. 逢友
9. 泣別
   (Return)

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