Xing Tan Tu

Tradition says Confucius taught his students at the "Xing Tan" in his home town of Qufu, Shandong province. Since ancient times "Xing Tan Pavilions" have been erected there in the Confucian temple. Illustrations often show him playing the qin as he teaches under a tree. The inscription with the illustration below ends with Confucius reciting a poem that provides lyrics for the version of the melody Xing Tan in Xilutang Qintong, 1549:²

Summer goes, winter comes, spring turns to fall;
Stars and sun set in the west, water flows eastward.
Generals fighting on horseback: now where are they?
Wild grass blocks out the flowers, covering the earth in gloom.

These same lyrics also appear in other qin melodies.

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Woodblock print of Confucius teaching at the Apricot Tree Forum

Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1. The identity of the "xing" tree is not clear.
(Return)

2. In Chinese (Section 10 only): 歌詞（第十段）

暑往寒來，春復秋；
夕陽西下，水東流。
將軍戰馬，今何在？
野草閑花，滿地愁。
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