Er Liu: Liu Shilong and Liu Yun

Liu Shilong,³ his (younger) son Liu Yun⁴ (465 - 517), (and his elder son Liu Yan⁵, 462 - 507) were leading qin players in Nanjing under the Liu Song dynasty. Another son, Liu Yue,⁶ is not mentioned.

Liu Shilong (442 - 491) was a son of Liu Yuanjing ⁷ (406 - 465), a high military official under the Liu Song emperor Xiao Wudi (r. 454 - 465). He is connected to a qin melody called Moonwalking on an Autumn Evening.⁸

Liu Yan (462 - 507), the elder son of Liu Shilong, gets only a brief mention in the Qin Shi essay.

Liu Yun (465 - 517) is also discussed by Xu Jian in QSCB, Chapter 4A (p.41). Apparently Liu Yun did not study from his father. The people connected to him in this biography include Ji Yuanrong,⁹ and Yang Gai¹⁰, as well as Dai Andao (Dai Kui, d. 395 CE) and Prince Jingling of Qi, (Xiao Ziliang¹¹).

The original essay in Qin Shi is as follows:

Liu Shilong, style name 彥緒 Yanxu, was a man of 河東解 Jie in Hedong (west of Loyang, north of the Yellow River). He served the 南齊 Southern Qi dynasty (474 - 501, based in Nanjing) trying to pacify 沈攸之 Shen Youzhi (d.478). A loyal official raised to the rank of Pacify the South General, then 尚書令 shangshu ling (a high rank in the capital). When young he had skill and fame; when old he especially liked to occupy himself discussing 義 righteousness. A good qin player he was called Master Liu the Double Player (柳公雙彈? last character written 弓+巢), and as a literatus he was considered tops. Of himself he said he had three interests, 1. cavalry, 2. 清談 clear talk, 3. playing the qin. When he did not have official affairs in the court he would go behind a curtain and play the qin. 風韻清遠 The clear natural tones would give him proper inspiration. He died at age 50.

Liu Yan (462 - 507), first son of Liu Shilong, was also skilled in musical tones.

Liu Yun (465 - 517), style name 文暢 Wenchang, was Liu Yan's younger brother. He wrote several poems including ones that go 亭皋木葉下，隴首秋雲飛 and 太液滄波起，長楊高樹秋。翠華承漢遠，雕輦逐風遊。 Poets up to the present time still praise them. He died as 吳興太守 Prefect of Wuxing (district south of 太湖 Taihu). The early (Liu?) Song dynasty (still had the teachings of ) 嵇元榮 Ji Yuanrong and 羊蓋 Yang Gai, both good at qin. It was said, Carrying on the methods of (Dai) Andao, Liu Yun when young studied them until he completely learned their techniques. Prince Jingling of Qi when once serving wine in his inner court had the unadorned qin of Jin minister 謝安 Xie An at his side. He gave it to Liu Yun to play an elegant melody. Ziliang said, The fortunate minister's skills are better than those of Xi Kang, the emotions are as good as those of 羊 Yang. (There follows more discussion of this qin play, including saying that his 清調論 and 樂義 were well written; something about playing his father's melodies.) He composed many fu and shi poems but did not write them down. While holding up (?挂) his qin the seated guests would use sticks to accompany him. Liu Yun was startled by the mournful sound and made this into an elegant sound. The later custom of percussion with/on the qin began with this. He was also especially good at 奕棋 playing wei qi chess. 梁武帝 Liang Wudi (502 - 550) said Liu Yun's skills were sufficient for 10 people.

Further details in preparation.

Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1. Why not "Three Lius"? (Return)

2. 17 lines (Return)

3. 柳世隆 Liu Shilong (442 - 491), style name 彥緒 Yanxu (Return)

4. 柳惔 Liu Yan (Return)

5. 柳惲 Liu Yun (465 - 517), style name 文暢 Wenchang (Return)

6. 柳悅 Liu Yue (15002.115) (Return)

7. 柳元景 Liu Yuanjing, a high military official under the Liu Song emperor 孝武帝 Xiao Wudi (r. 454 - 465) (Return)

8. Qiuxiao Bu Yue 秋宵步月
The earliest surviving version is in Xilutang Qintong; see #159 in its Table of Contents. (Return)

9. Ji Yuanrong 嵇元榮 (Bio.xxx; descendant of Xi Kang?) (Return)

10. Yang Gai 羊蓋 Bio.xxx (Return)

11. Xiao Ziliang, Prince Jingling of Qi 齊竟陵王蕭子良
蕭子良 Xiao Ziliang (32667.8). See story above. (Return)

Return to QSCB, or to the Guqin ToC.