Qinshu Daquan, perhaps the largest surviving qin handbook, has 22 folios, but only the last two have qin tablature (62 melodies, 8 with lyrics). The rest of the book consists of writings connected to the qin.⁴

For further information see the:

• Qinqu Jicheng preface, giving background to the history and contents of Qinshu Daquan.
• Qinshu Daquan Table of Contents

 
Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1 See Volume V of Qinqu Jicheng. (Return)

2 Further information on Jiang Keqian is in the Qinqu Jicheng preface. (Return)

3 Qinshu Daquan has only two images showing people with qins; in neither image is the player identified. The first image (QQJC VI/177), here at top, illustrates "putting on the strings". The second (VI/188), below, accompanies text poetically evoking an explanation of the finger technique 虛奄 xu yan (don't use the right hand; with left hand index finger [or ring finger] on the string, press the thumb down, making a sound). The accompanying image evokes "空谷傳聲 transmitting sound in an empty valley". (Return)

4 The reprinting of Qinshu Daquan required the whole of Volume V of Qinshu Jicheng. There are 532 pages, each with two double-pages from the original. (Return)

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