Although the instructions for this tuning say, "lower the first and third strings", with minor adjustments both this modal prelude and its accompanying melody, Xian Pei Ying Feng, can be played with only the third string lowered.²

Based on the ending notes, the tonal centers are la and mi. However, there seem to be important cadences on do, as well as so and re. Determining the modality is complicated by the fact that the tablature includes no punctuation.

 
Original preface

 
One section
(untitled)

1. (No title)
     harmonics
     end

 
Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1 21296.29 玉女 yunü gives many meanings; there are also entries through 21296.38, two of which connect with poetry or music. The Chu Ci poem 惜誓 Xi Shi (Sorrow for Troth Betrayed) mentions Jade Girls. Several lines later it also mentions Wangzi Qiao and Chisongzi, and one of the Yuefu Shiji poems about Wangzi Qiao (p.438) also mentions Jade Girls. (Return)

2 Indicated on my transcription. The first string is not commonly used. (Return)

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