Feng Qiu Huang in this tuning, its Wumei modal introduction and its prelude #154 Linqiong Yin, are found only in Xilutang Qintong³ (see Appendix). The title Linqiong Yin occurs only here; the title Feng Qiu Huang is elsewhere applied to qin melodies accompanying a different set of lyrics ("There is a beautiful lady; once seen she cannot be forgotten....").⁴ The earliest of these, called Wenjun Cao, was published in Fengxuan Xuanpin (1539). The next, in 1585, has a new melody. The version played today in the Mei'an School can be traced to a version first surviving from the 1589 edition of Yang Lun Taigu Yiyin.

The theme is one of China's best known love stories. Sima Xiangru (179-113 BCE) was a well-known but impoverished poet;⁵ Zhuo Wenjun was the widowed daughter of a wealthy man of Linqiong (today called Qionglai), a town about 50 miles south of Chengdu. One day during a social event in the wealthy man's home Xiangru played the qin and sang the lyrics given below. Wenjun, hearing this from the other room, fell in love. They eloped, running a wine shop and living in poverty until her father finally forgave them and gave them money.

The title melody has 10 sections, the lyrics have two. The lyrics, attributed to Sima Xiangru himself,⁶ were included in both Yuefu Shiji and Yutai Xinyong.⁷

The qin melody entitled White Hair Melody (Baitou Yin) tells a related story.⁸ Some years later, as Wenjun's hair was turning grey, Xiangru decided to take a concubine. Wenjun then wrote a Baitou Yin reminding Xiangru of his previous vows; he relented.

 
Original preface

Sima Xiangru wandered into Linqiong, where he met Wenjun, the daughter of Zhuo Wangsun, who was recently widowed. He wrote these (lyrics) to seduce her. So she eloped with him and they both went back to Chengdu. Later this was made into a qin melody.

 
Music ⁹
Ten sections (titled)

1. For wumei tuning (無媒調), from standard tuning lower the third and sixth strings. (Return)

2. 47631.56 .226 Feng Qiu Huang says this is a qin melody about Sima Xiangru (司馬相如) meeting Zhuo Wenjun (卓文君) at Linqiong, then quotes the opening of the Yuefu Shiji poem used here. The title Feng Qiu Huang survives in 16 handbooks from 1539 (where it is called 文君操 Wenjun Cao) to 1961, All use standard tuning except 1549, 1931 and 1961 (the latter two have a lowered 3rd string). See also Fred Lieberman, A Chinese Zither Tutor, p.75ff. (Return)

3. "有美人兮見之不忘；一日不見兮思之如狂..."
(You meiren xi, jian zhi bu wang; yi ri bu jian xi, si zhi ru kuang...."; see Wenjun Cao) These lyrics, which are also attributed to Sima Xiangru, are found in all the versions of this title after 1549. (Return)

4. Subsequent settings use differing melodies for the same lyrics. See the Appendix. (Return)

5. At the death of 梁孝王劉武 Prince Xiao (Liu Wu; r. 168-144) Sima Xiangru lost his position at the Liang court, which was based in what is today 商丘 Shangqiu in Henan province, near the border with Shandong province. Its modern website claims to have been the "family home" of Confucius (it is just over 100 miles SW of Qufu) and the home town of Zhuangzi. (Return)

6. The original 鳳求凰歌詞 Feng Qiu Huang lyrics, also in 樂府詩集 Yuefu Shiji, 琴曲歌詞 Qin Song Lyrics, p.881 are as follows:
   (聽錄音 listen to my recording; 歌詞在第三、第八段; lyrics are sung in sections 3 and 8)

(Zha Fuxi's Guide seems to have missed these lyrics.) (Return)

7. YFSJ, Qin Song Lyrics, Folio 60, and Yutai Xinyong, Birrell, p.272.
(Return)

8. See details under Zhuo Wenjun and Wumei Yi. (Return)

9. Playing time is about 6 1/2 minutes; when played together with Wumei Yi and Linqiong Yin playing time is about 10 minutes. (Return)

See the Appendix tracing Feng Qiu Huang or go to the Guqin ToC.