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Yuan Xian
- Qin Shi #25		 原憲 1
琴史 #25 2

The entry in Qin Shi is called Yuan Si, but this was a common name for Yuan Xian (born 525 BCE), style name Zisi, a disciple of Confucius. He was poor, as is seen in the Qin Shi account,4 where he has a discussion with another student Zigong, who was rich.5

The account mentions a melody called Shang Song Cao. Shang Song is the name of the last section of the Shi Jing. This is probably unrelated; Shang Song has no mention of qin.

Yuan Xian, style name Zisi, was tranquil and principled, was poor but loved the Dao. He lived in a bare room with nothing on the walls. One day Zigong, riding on a fat horse and wearing valuable furs, came to see him.... (He asked if Yuan Si was ill. Taking offense, Yuan Si said he may be poor but he was not ill. He then sang a Shang Song Cao).6

 
Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1. Yuan Xian 原憲
3028.163 原憲 style name 子思 Zisi, also called 原思 Yuan Si.
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2. 11 lines
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3. Appropriate image not yet selected
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4. Another version of this story is translated in Van Gulik, Lore, pp. 160-1.
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5. 子貢 Zigong
3028.371 says Zigong, the rich student of Confucius, had the surname 端木 Duanmu and given name 賜 Si; Zigong was his style name. References are given there to Lun Yu, Shi Ji, Han Shu and Lun Heng. Zigong is also mentioned in a commentary by Han Ying; see Qinshu Cunmu, Folio 16, #31. See also Liu Xiang's Lienü Zhuan biography of The Maiden of Agu: the linked illustration shows her with Zigong, who is holding a qin. The story mentions a qin with no pegs.
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6. 商頌操 Shang Song Cao
3834.145
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