Regarding his official work in the Ming court, in 1367, the year before the formal establishment of the Ming dynasty, the emperor-to-be made him a Chief Musician (Xielü Lang⁴) within the newly re-created Office of Imperial Sacrifices (Taichang Si⁵). One of his duties was "to set ritual texts to music so that they could be sung".⁶

Qinshu Cunmu credits him with two works:

1. Lengxian Qinsheng 16 Fa   (Leng the Immortal's Sixteen Rules for Qin Tones)
2. Taigu Zhengyin.

The latter is apparently lost. The former, translated into English by R. H. van Gulik in Lore of the Chinese Lute,⁷ inspired several later essays of a similar nature, in particular Xishan Qin Kuang by Xu Hong.

The biography of Leng Qian in Qinshi Xu is as follows,⁸

Leng Qian, style name Qijing, was from Qiantang (Hangzhou). He became a recluse on the top of the Wu mountains. He understood music theory and was good at playing qin. He was airy and graceful, with interests beyond the dusts of society. At the beginning of the Hongwu period (1368-99), with Chen Meizhan and also Tao Kai, Wang Wei and Xiong Taigu, they 同定郊廟諸樂章 together fixed imperial temple sacrifices as they concerned musical movements. 樂成授協律郎 The music completed, he became Xielü Lang. He wrote Leng the Immortal's 16 Rules for Qin Tones, and Taigu Zhengyin, one folio.

 
Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1. Leng Qian 冷謙 (ca. 1310 - ca. 1371)
Dictionary of Ming Biography. Bio/1118: 元明間湖廣武陵 from Wuling in Hubei; 字起敬，號龍陽子 style name Qijing, nickname Longyangzi. Also known as 冷仙 Immortal Leng. Other sources say he was from 武林 Wulin (Hangzhou). Joseph Lam, State Sacrifices and Music in Ming China discusses him on pp. 101 and 115.

The Encyclopedia of Taoism (Routledge), pp. 630-1, has a biography of Leng Qian by Martina Darga. It says, in part,

In addition to the two works mentioned above Leng Qian also wrote Essential Purport of the Cultivation of Longevity (修齡要旨 Xiuling Yaozhi). Like the 16 Rules it can be found in 學海類編 Xuehai Leibian.
(Return)

2. 5 lines; references:雙槐歲鈔 Shuanghuai Suichao, 錢塘縣志 Qiantang Xianzhi, 明藝文志 Ming Yiwen Zhi, 千頃堂書目 Qianqingtang Shumu
(Return)

3. The image has vertical text at left saying 協律郎冷謙 Chief Musician Leng Qian; the horizontal text below says it is from（清）上官圖 (Qing dynasty) Illustrations of High Officials.
(Return)

4. Chief musician: 協律郎 Xielulang
Hucker 2477 and 6145. Lam, p. 101, calls him "music director", a position that "ranked seventh in a bureaucratic hierarchy of nine grades."
(Return)

5. Office of Imperial Sacrifices (太常寺 Taichang Si)
Hucker 6145: one of of the Nine Courts (九寺 Jiu Si) in the central government and foremost in prestige from the North-South division after the Han through the Ming.
(Return)

6. Lam, p. 101. Lam goes on to describe Leng Qian's further activities, including "tuning the stone-chimes, bell-cimes, and other musical instruments to their proper and accurate pitches".
(Return)

7. Sixteen Rules for Qin Tones (琴聲十六法 Qinsheng Shiliu Fa)
Van Gulik, Lore, p.107-116, translates these as Sixteen Rules for the Tones of the Lute. The original text is below. It is also discussed in QSCB, VII.C.
(Return)

8. The people mentioned in the Qinshi Xu biography of Leng Qian are:

陳昧詹 Chen Meizhan (NFI)
陶凱 Tao Kai (42642.143)
王鰄禕 Wang Wei (212195.1583)
熊太古 Xiong Taigu (19738.15, son of 熊朋來 Xiong Penglai)
(Return)

冷謙 Leng Qian, Sixteen Rules for Qin Tones (琴聲十六法 Qinsheng Shiliu Fa)
The translation is slightly modified from that in Van Gulik, Lore, pp. 107-116 (compare Xu Hong's 24 Rules);
the original Chinese can be found there and elsewhere (with some inconsistencies)

1. 一曰「輕」 Qing: the light touch
   不輕不重者。中和之音也。起調當以中為主。而輕重持損益之則。其趣自生。蓋音之輕處最難。力有未到。則浮而不實。晦而不明。雖輕亦不佳。惟輕之中。不爽清實。而一絲一忽。指到音綻。幽趣無限。乃有一節一句之輕。有間雜高下之輕。種種意趣。皆貴於清實中得之。
   Not light and not heavy are the tones of balanced harmony. When the melody starts, one should aim at playing in these balanced tones. If, in applying the light and heavy touch, the rules of decrescendo and crescendo are adhered to, the sentiment of the tune appears of its own accord. The light touch is the most difficult of all. If not enough force is applied, then the tone is vague and not true, dim and not clear; though light, it is not elegant. The middle light tones are faultless, clear and true. [When applying the light touch] one should consider the string being as thin as one single silk thread of one one-thousandth of an inch, the sound of which is spoilt when the finger as much as approaches it. Then these tones shall express a sentiment of infinite profundity. Sometimes one whole phrase or bar (jie) is played in the light touch, but there exist also the mixed, the higher and the lower light touches. Their tendencies vary, but, with regard to all, the main point lies in clearness and truth.

2. 二曰「鬆」 Song: the loose touch
   鬆即吟猱妙處。宛轉動蕩。無滯無礙。不促不慢。以至恰好。謂之鬆。吟猱之巨細緩急。俱有松處。故琴之妙在取音。取音宛轉則情聯。松活則意暢。其趣如水之與瀾。其體如珠之走盤。其聲如哦詠之有韻。可以名其松。
   The beauty of vibrato (yin) and vibrato ritardando (nao) lies in the loose touch. The left hand should move up and down over the string in a rounded-off movement, lightly and freely, without any jerks or hitches. It should not be too hasty, nor too slow, but just right; this is what is called the loose touch. Heavy, thin, slow and quick vibrato and vibrato ritardando, all are based on the loose touch. Therefore, the wondrous music of the qin entirely depnds upon touch. If the touch is rounded off, then the emotions ar unified; if the loose touch is lively, then the thoughts are elated. The loose touch should evoke an impression as of water rising in waves, its substance should evoke an impression as of pearls rolling in a bowl; its sound should be like the resonance of intoning a text: this is what is called the loose touch.

3. 三曰「脆」 Cui: the crisp touch
   脆者健也。於沖和大雅中。健其兩手。而音不至於滯。兩手皆有脆音。第藏不見。出之不易。右手靠弦。則音滯而木。故曰。指必甲尖。弦必懸落。在指不勁。則音膠而格。故曰。聲如金石。動如風發。要知脆處。即指之靈處。指之靈。自出於健。而指之健。又出於腕。腕中之力既到。則為堅脆。然後識滯氣之在弦。不為知音厭聽。
   The crisp touch is firm. Even for playing tunes of soft harmony and great elegance, both hands should attack the strings, firmly, so that the tones will not be turbid. For each hand this crisp touch is used, but it is hidden and does not come into sight, and it is not easy to express. When the right hand drags on the strings, then the tones will be turbid and dull. Therefore it is said: One should attack the strings with the tips of the fingers, touching them vertically from above. If one does not attack the strings smartly, then the tones will be sticky and irregular. Therefore it is said: The resonance should be like metal or stone, the movement of the fingers should be like the rising wind. For understanding the crisp touch, the swiftness of the fingers should first be known. The swiftness of the fingers is rooted in firmness. The firmness of the fingers is rooted in the arm. If the strength of the arm is applied, then the firm, crisp touch may be executed. Not until then can it be understood that the tendency to turbidity inherent in the strings does not anny the true musician.

4. 四曰「滑」 Hua: the gliding touch
   滑者溜也。又澀之反也。音當欲澀。而指當欲滑。音本喜慢。而緩緩出之。若流泉之鳴咽。時滴滴不已。故曰澀。指取走弦而滯則不靈。乃往來之鼓動。如風發發。故曰滑。然指之運用。固貴其滑。而亦有時乎貴留。蓋其留者。即滑中之安頓處也。故有澀不可無滑。有滑不可無留。意有在耳。
   Gliding means flowing: it is the opposite of halting. The tones tend to be halting, and the fingers tend to be gliding. By nature the tones tend to be drawn out, and to follow each other in slow succession, like the bubbling sound of a stream, that goes on gurgling endlessly. Therefore this is called halting. If the finger technique is impeded then it is not swift. The fingers should move up and down like gusts of wind, therefore this touch is called gliding. The most important point in the movement of the fingers is of course sliding. But sometimes also stopping is important This stopping should be considered as a pause in the gliding. So that when in a tune there is halting, there must also be gliding; and if there is gliding, there must also be halting. Then both obtain their real significance.

5. 五曰「高」 Gao: the lofty touch
   高與古似。而實與高異。古以韻發。高以調裁。指下既靜既清。而又得能高調。則音意始臻微妙。故其為寧謐也。若深淵之不可測。若喬岳之不可望。其為流逝也。若江河之欲無盡。若三籟之欲無聲。
   Although the lofty touch resembles the antique touch (#11), they are essentially different. The antique touch is expressed by resonance, the lofty touch is modelled after melody. If the finger technique is serene and clear, and if moreover one can apply the lofty modulation, only then shall the meaning of the tones reach the mysterious wonder. Therefore this touch is of the utmost tranquillity, like a deep well that can not be fathomed, like a high mountain whose top is lost to the eye. It flows on, like streams that are never exhausted, and it is soundless like the threefold sound of emptiness.

6. 六曰「潔」 Jie: the pure touch
   欲修妙音者。必先修妙指。修指之道。從有而無。因多而寡。一塵不染。一垢弗緇。止於至潔之地。而人不知其解。指既修潔。則音愈希。音愈希。則意趣愈永。吾故曰。欲修妙音者。必先修妙指。欲修妙指者。又必先自修潔始。
   If one wishes to attain perfection in tone, one should first attain perfection in the finger technique. The way of perfecting the finger technique passes from being to not-being, through multiplicity to simplicity. Not discoloured by one speck of dust, not defiled by one flaw, the secret of the finger technique dwells in the stage of the highest purity. But generally people do not realize this. If in the finger technique purity is perfected, then the tones become more and more rarefied. The more rarefied the tones are, the more the spirit nears eternity. Therefore I say: if one wishes to perfect wondrous tones, one should first prefect the wondrous finger technique. In orer to perfect the wondrous finger techiques, one must necessarily start with cultiviting purity in oneself.

7. 七曰「清」 Qing: the clear touch
   清者。音之主宰。地僻則清。心靜則清。氣肅則清。琴實則清。弦潔則清。必使群清咸集。而後可求之指上。兩手如鸞鳳和鳴。不染絲毫濁氣。厝指如擊金戛石。緩急絕無客聲。試一聽之。則澄然秋潭。皎然月潔。湱然山濤。幽然谷應。真令人心骨俱冷。體氣欲仙。
   All tones are governed by clearness. If the place where the music is performed is secluded, clearness results; when the heart is serene, clearness results; when the spirit is solemn, clearness results; if the qin is true, clearness results; if the strings are clean, clearness results. Only when all these factors that affect clearness are assembled may one aim at clearness in the finger technique. Then left and right hand shall be like Male and Female Phoenix, chanting harmoniously together, and the tones shall not be stained with the slightest impurity. The movement of the fingers should be like striking bronze bells or sonorous stones. Slow or quick, no secondary sounds shall be produced, so that when hearing these tones one obtains an impression of purity - as of a pool in autumn; of brilliancy - as of the shining moon; of dim resonance - as of the babbling water in mountain gorges; of profundity - as of a resounding valley. These tones shall in truth freeze alike heart and bones, and it shall be as if one were going to be bodily transformed into an Immortal.

8. 八曰「虛」 Xu: the empty touch
   撫琴著實處。亦有何難。獨難於得虛。然指動而求聲。烏乎虛。余則曰。政在聲中求耳。聲厲則知躁。聲粗則知濁。聲靜則知虛。此審音之道也。蓋其下指功夫。一在調氣。一在淘洗。調氣則心自靜。淘洗則聲自虛。故雖急而不亂。多而不繁。深淵自居。清光發外。高山流水。於此可以神會。
   While playing the qin to express true tones, this is not very difficult. What is really difficult is to express emptiness. If asked, "The fingers move to produce tones; where does emptiness come in?" I would answer, It lies exactly in the production of tones. If the tones are sharp, the player shows his precipitation; if the tones are coarse, then the player betrays his impurity; but if the tones are serene, then the player shows that he has achieved the expression of emptiness. This is the right way for appreciating music. The merit of the finger technique lies in two things; on the one hand in expressing the spirit of the melody, and on the other in refining its purity. When the spirit of the melody is expressed, then the heart will become serene as a matter of course, and when the purity is refined, the tones shall naturally be empty. Therefore though being quick they will not be disorderly, and though being many they will not be confused. The self-sufficiency of a deep well, and irradiating splendour, high mountains and flowing streams: with the spirit of these one's soul should harmonize.

9. 九曰「幽」 You: the profound touch
   音有幽度。始稱琴品。品系乎人。幽繇於內。故高雅之士。動操便有幽韻。洵知幽之在指。無論緩急。悉能安閑自如。風度盎溢。纖塵無染。足覘瀟灑胸次。指下自然寫出一段風情。所謂得之心。而應之手。聽其音而得其人。此幽之所以微妙也。
   If tones are profound, then they come up to the standard of qin music. The quality of music depends upon the personality of the player; thus profundity comes from within. Therefore, when a high-minded and cultivated scholar executes a tune, then the resonance is profound. If one truly understands profundity as expressed by the fingers, the player can let himself go, whether the movement be slow or quick. The music will be broad and generous like the wind, and unstained by earthly dust. It will serve to show the elevated disposition of the player, and the fingers will depict the emotion that inspired each part of the composition. This is meant by the saying: Let the fingers express what the heart expriences. When one hears his music one shall know the personality of the player. Such are the wonderful qualities of the profound touch.

10. 十曰「奇」 Ji: the rare touch
    音有奇特處。乃在呤逗間。指下取之。當如千岩競秀。萬壑爭流。令人流連不盡。應接不暇。至於章句頓挫。曲折之際。尤不可輕易草草放過。定有一段情緒。又如山隨人面轉。字字摹神。方知奇妙。
    The special quality of tone that is produced by the rare touch appears in the vibrato and the glissando (dou). If while playing it is applied in the right way, it should evoke an impression as if a thoughand mountain peaks vied with each other in verdure, as if the ten thousand streams emulated each other's effervescence. It shoould impart to the hearer a sensation of flowing, of going on forever, an unbroken continuity. Where in a tune periods or bars are suddenly broken off, and at the end of a tune, care should be taken especially not to let the muic end in a vague, careless way. For each part of a tune has its special sentiment that should be expressed by the performer. Moreover and expression should be given as if one were riding on horseback high in the mountians, amidst drifting clouds. When every note is made to express the sentiment inherent in it, then only shall one know the wonder of the rare touch.

11. 十一曰「古」 Gu: the antique touch
    琴學祗有二途。非從古。則從時。茲雖古樂久淹。而仿佛其意。則自和澹中來。故下指不落時調。便有羲皇氣象。寬大純樸。落落弦中。不事小巧。宛然深山邃谷。老木寒泉。風聲簌簌。頓令人起道心。絕非世所見聞者。是以名其古音。
    In studying the qin there are only two ways: either one follows the old methods, or one follows the methods that are in vogue at the time. Although the old music is obscured by its high antiquity, still if one tries to appoach its meaning, its harmony and simplicity may be reached as a matter of course. Therefore, when in playing one does not fall in with the tunes that are in vogue at the time, then the music breathes the spirit of the Emperor Fu Xi. It should be grand, broad and simple, boldly moving over the strings, disdaining petty virtuosity. It should be unmoved like a profound mountain, like a cavernous vale, like an old tree or a clool stream, like the rustling wind, causing the hearer suddenly to realize the True Way. This is something that certainly is rarely seen or heard in this world; therefore it is called the antique touch.

12. 十二曰「澹」 Tan: the simple touch
    時師欲人耳。必作媚音。殊傷大雅。第不知琴音本澹。而吾復調之以澹。故眾人所不解。惟澹何居。吾愛此情。不奓不競。吾愛此味。如雪如冰。吾愛此響。松之風。而竹之雨。澗之滴。而波之濤也。故善知音者。始可與言澹。
    The qin masters of the present time aim at charming the ears; they insist upon producing captivating sounds, thereby greatly sinning against refined elegance. This is because they do not know that the basis of qin music is simplicity. I, on the contrary, tune my qin to simplicity, therefore the great mass does not understand my music. Where is it that simplicity dwells? I love its sentiment, which is not expravagant nor contending. I love its flavour, which is like snow or ice. I love its echo, which is like the wind blowing over pines, like rain on bamboo, like the bubbling of a mountain stream, or like lapping waves. It is only with great musicians that one can talk about simplicity.

13. 十三曰「中」 Zhong: the balanced touch
    樂有中聲。惟琴固然。自古音淹沒。攘臂弦索。而捧耳於琴者。比比矣。即有繼空谷之聲。未免郢人寡合。不知喜工柔媚則偏。落指重濁則偏。性好炎鬧則偏。發聲局促則偏。取音粗厲則偏。入弦倉卒則偏。氣質浮躁則偏，矯其偏。歸於全。祛其倚。習於正。斯得中之傳。
    Balanced sounds occur in all music, but they are inherent in the music of the qin. After the old music was lost, there were many that pulled the strings with ardent fervour, and carefully listened to the qin; but only the most excellent musicians are able to transmit the echo of the empty vale. When, ignorantly, one rejoices in elaborating mellow and captivating tones, obliquity (pian) results. When the finger technique is heavy and impure, obliquity results. When the resonance is strained and hasty, obliquity results. When the tones produced are coarse and sharp, obliquity results. When the strings are attacked hurridly, obliquity results. When the personality of the player is unstable and casual, obliquity results. Rectifying this obliquity, returning to completeness, banishing the devious and aiming at the right, this is the way to obtain the tradition of the balanced touch.

14. 十四曰「和」 He: the harmonious touch
    和為五音之本。無過不及之謂也。當調之在弦。審之在指。辨之在音。弦有性。順則協。逆則矯。往來鼓動。有如膠漆。則弦與指和。音有律。或在徽。或不在徽。俱有分數以位其音。要使婉婉成吟。絲絲葉韻。以得其曲之情。則指與音和。音有意。意動音隨。則眾妙歸。故重而不虛。輕而不浮。疾而不促。緩而不弛。若吟若猱。圓而不俗。以綽經注。正而不差。迂回曲折。聯而無間。抑揚起伏。斷而復連。則音與意和。因之神閑氣逸。指與弦化。自得渾合無跡。吾是以和其太和。
    Harmony is the basis of all tones: it means neither overdoing nor falling short. It is modulated on the strings, it is experienced in the fingers, it is diversified in the notes. The strings have their own nature: if they are compliant, then they will be in harmongy with each other. If they are recalcitrant, then they are false. When the movement of the fingers moving up and down, from one string to the other, is smooth like varnish, then the strings harmonize with the fingers. The tones are regulated by the gamut: sometimes they are to be produced exactly on the spot indicated by one of the thireen studs, sometimes they are not. The numerical indications fix the notes. The important point is to make the vibrato smooth, and to make the chords harmonize precisely, in order to express the sentiment of the tune. Then fingers and tones will be in harmony. Every tone has its own special significance; the signifance comes first, for the notes adjust themselves to the significance. So all the wonders of this music are completed. Therefore, heavy and not vain, light but not floating, swift but not hasty, slow but not slack; with regard to the vibrato and the vibrato retardando: smooth but not vulgar; with regard to glissandos: correct and not inaccurate; whan all the movements are linked up together smoothly; then the crescendos and decrescendos are crips and yet connected...then tone and significance shall be in harmony. Then the soul shall be free and the spirit at rest, fingers and strings melt together, and the pure harmony that leaves no trace shall be produced. These are the signs by which I recognize the great Harmony.

15. 十五曰「疾」 Ji: the quick touch
    指法有徐則有疾。然徐為疾之綱。疾為徐之應。嘗相錯間。故句中借速以落遲。或句完遲老以速接。又有二法。小速微快。要以緊。遞指不傷疾中之雅度。而隨有行雲流水之趣。大速貴急。務使急而不亂。依然安閑之氣象。而瀉出崩崖飛瀑之聲。是故疾以意用。更以意神。
    In the finger technique both the slow and the quick touch are used. The slow touch is the basis of the quick, the quick touch is the echo of the slow. In the tunes both touches are alternating continually. Sometimes in the middle of a bar the touch is quick, but near its end it slows down; and a bar that ends on the slow touch sometimes is followed up immediately by a movement in the swift touch. Moreover there are two ways of executing the quick touch. The first is called the little swift touch, which must be brisk. It must be firm, yet the movement of the fingers should not spoil the elegance inherent in the swift touch; it should suggest floating clouds and flowing water. The second is the great swift touch. Its most important point lies in its precipitation, but one should make special efforts not to cause confusion by playing too quickly. Then as a matter of course one expresses a mood of tranquillity, and the sounds will come forth bubbling, like rocks crumbling down or like a cascade falling from a high place. Therefore the quick touch is regulated by the meaning of the tones. It is the meaning that lends tones their divine qualities.

16. 十六曰「徐」 Xu: the slow touch
    古人以琴涵養性情。故名其聲曰希。嘗於徐徐得之。音生于指。優游弦上。節其氣候。候至而下以葉厥律。或章句舒徐。或緩急相間。或斷而復續。或續而復斷。因候制宜。自然調古聲希。漸入淵微。嚴道徹詩。幾回拈出陽春調。月滿四樓下指遲。其於徐意。大有得也。
    The ancients used the qin to nurture their nature and their emotions; therefore they called its tones rarefied. This quality is to be expressed by the very slow touch. Tones are produced by the fingers, broadly roaming over the strings, but observing the right measure, so that the music produced is in harmony with the gamut. Sometimes one entire bar is played calmly and slowly, sometimes also in the same bar slow and quick alternate with each other. Sometimes a bar breaks off in the middle and then goes on again, sometimes also while going on smoothly it suddenly breaks off. When this technique is executed correctly as each case requires, then naturally one produces the rarefied tones of antiquity, and gradually one penetrates the deepest mystery of this music.

 
Return to the top, or to the Guqin ToC.