This (essay) is seen in Qinshu Daquan (Folio 10). The author, during the Zhenghe period (1111-1117) of the Northern Song, for the circumstances of the qin world carried out a broad critical essay, pointing out that at that time,⁵

This paragraph makes an outline of the different styles of each of the northern and southern schools, regarding with special approval the Double Zhe qin school. From this one can see that the ascent of the Zhe School certainly had long tradition. As early as the Northern Song it already had a leading position.⁶

The same as with Zequan, (Cheng) paid a lot of attention to the differences between diaozi and caonong, saying,⁷

This points out that the two (types of melodies) had different styles of play, and also the tendencies they could easily produce. He also laid out a list of the popular diaozi of his day, dividing them into different styles and adding commentary.⁸

(Cheng) opposed just blindly following old tablature, saying,⁹

"Old melodies are rarely achieved. The ones now commonly transmitted never have clear modality/melodies, the intonation has dissonance, the sounds are chaotic, there naturally are omissions: how can one be blinded by such a melody?"

(Instead) he advocated,¹⁰

"Examine all the experts, select the good ones, and follow them."

Regarding peoples' bearing during performance, for all such aspects as every sort of finger technique and dynamic process he put forward detailed explanations and advocated strict and concrete requirements. However, he stressed even more comprehension of melodies, saying,¹¹

"Temper yourself over a long period of time, then suddenly you will achieve comprehension, and then there will be nothing you cannot do."

"As for this lack of comprehension, although one may use a lot of effort seeking it, in the end there will be no beautiful space."

(Continue with next, Zhao Xikuang, Lun Tan Qin)

 
Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1. Chapter 6 covers these dynasties (dates, capital city [modern name]):

2. Translation by JT
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3. Cheng Yujian 成玉^石間
Cheng Yujian (11820.xxx; this jian is not in my computer) lived during (1111-1117), but there seems to be no information about him other what what is written here. There is also a collection of his explanations of finger techniques (Zhi Fa, Qinshu Cunmu #128), included in Qinshu Daquan, Folio 8 (Qinqu Jicheng, V/155 apparently to 158).

This essay also mentions several people including the Song dynasty poet 張敏叔 Zhang Minshu (i.e., 張景修 Zhang Jingxiu; see V/206 bottom right last line, bottom left lines 3 and 10).
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4. Discussing Qin (論琴 Lun Qin)
This quite lengthy essay (over six double-pages) is called Qin Lun in Qinshu Daquan, Folio 10 (Qinqu Jicheng, Vol.5, pp. 204-6). This discussion of the essay is one of nine such discussions in a section of QSCB called Qin Lun, so perhaps Xu Jian reversed Cheng Yujian's title to Lun Qin to avoid duplication. Cheng Yujian's essay begins,

5. 京師、兩浙、江西能琴者極多然指法各有不同。京師過於剛勁，江南失於輕浮，惟兩浙質而不野，文而不史。
This quote begins on QQJC V/204, last line of top right quadrant.
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6. Origins of the Zhe School
Elsewhere (see comment) it seems to be suggested that the Zhe school actually began more than a century later than the present article.
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7. 操弄貴飄揚而多失於無度，調子貴淡靜而多陷於僻澀
See in QSDQ, Folio 10 (QQJC, V/204 lower left lines 5-6).
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8. Cheng Yujian naming and analyzing diaozi
This seems to refer to at least two parts of his Qin Lun. QSCB, Chapter 6b3, has four of his quotes analyzing diaozi. As for naming them, this seems to come in the section (see QSDQ, Folio 10 in QQJC, V/205 lower half) that includes (see line 5) phrases like this,

Of these four titles, one (Song Yu Bei Qiu is mentioned as a manjiao mode diaozi in QSCQ. Folio 13, while Xu Jian mentions the first two under Zequan Heshang in Chapter 6b3.
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9. 古曲罕得，世俗所傳杳無明調，至律有不協，聲韻繁亂，自當刪除，豈可蔽於一曲哉？
See in QSDQ, Folio 10 (QQJC, V/205 upper right lines 3-4). This is a very good description of a poorly done reconstruction (dapu),
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10. 參考諸家，擇其善者
See in QSDQ, Folio 10 (QQJC, V/205 upper right lines 3-4). This is a very good recommendation for the tradition oral method of learning.
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11. 歲月磨煉，瞥然省悟，則無所不通
See in QSDQ, Folio 10 (QQJC, V/205 top right lines 5-6).
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12. 至於未悟，雖用力尋求，終無妙處
See in QSDQ, Folio 10 (QQJC, V/205 top right lines 6-7).

In his article on Song dynasty music, Yuan Jung-Ping explained this as follows,

"Cheng Yujian wrote....that playing the qin is like practicing meditation: after years of practice, there can be sudden enlightenment. Enlightenment allows one to discover the purpose of life and understand the greatness of nature. While we know that Buddhist philosophy influenced qin theory, at the same time playing the qin must also have helped Buddhist monks achieve their religious goals."
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Return to the top or to Song-Yuan in the Qinshi Chubian outline.