Sanjiao Tongsheng was compiled by Zhang Dexin² of Xin'an (New Peace).³ It includes a prelude and three melodies, one for each of China's main religions:

1. Mingde Yin (Bright Virtue Prelude; VI/108)
       Lyrics are a commentary by Zhu Xi on the Da Xue (Great Learning); it is a prelude to:
   Kongsheng Jing (Sacred Confucian Annal; VI/108)
       Lyrics are the Da Xue itself
2. Shitan Zhang (Stanzas of Siddham; VI/110)
       Buddhist incantation and predecessor of Pu An Zhou
3. Qingjing Jing (Canon of Pure Tranquility; VI/113)
       Lyrics are a Daoist morning lesson

In this handbook the origin of the melodies is never stated. The original preface to Sanjiao Tongsheng, by Zheng Bangfu,⁴ seems to suggest that Zhang Dexin may have adapted Shitan Zhang from a chant. Or perhaps he was transmitting someone else's adaptation. In 1620 the qin handbook Taiyin Xisheng stated that Shitan Zhang was written down by a man named Li Shuinan around the year 1578.⁵ Musically Shitan Zhang has very much the quality of a chant adapted for qin, whereas the Daoist and Confucian pieces have more the style of qin songs.

Wu Zhao's preface to this book suggests that perhaps Zhang Dexin was simply collecting these melodies (or arrangements from chant), not creating them. It says nothing about Zhang Dexin himself.

 
Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1. 三教同聲 ; in Volume 6 of 琴曲集成 Qinqu Jicheng.
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2. 張德新 Zhang Dexin
Zhang Dexin, styled 賓桐 Bintong, is not in my dictionaries (the Zhang Dexin was Song dynasty). Sanjiao Tongsheng (QQJC VI, p. 108) says, 新安張德新嘉甫纂集 Compiled by Zhang Dexin Jiafu of Xin'an, so Jiafu (4233.39) was apparently another nickname for Zhang Dexin.
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3. 12888.92 新安 mentions Xin'ans in Jiangsu (a river coming from Huangshan? see also Xie Lin), Hebei, Henan and Guangdong.
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4. 鄭邦福 Zheng Bangfu (40513.xxx; Bio/xxx) Zhang signs himself as a Grand Master of Palace Accord serving as an official in Fujian province, but there is no further information.
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5. The 李水南 Li Shuinan comment in 太陰希聲 Taiyin Xisheng is in 琴曲集成 Qinqu Jicheng, Vol.IX, p.163. It expresses 1578 as 萬歷戊寅, mentioning 災梨 (災黎 fleeing from disaster?).
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Return to the annotated handbook list or to the Guqin ToC.