Xu Li
 T of C 
Home 		My
Work		 Hand-
books		 Qin as
Object		 Qin in
Art		 Poetry
/ Song		 Hear,
Watch		 Play
Qin		 Analysis History Ideo-
logy		 Miscel-
lanea		 More
Info		 Personal email me search me
Qin bios 首頁
Xu Li
- Qin Shi Xu #18		 徐理 1
琴史續 #18 2
  徐理琴統圖 Diagrams from Xu Li's Qin System3      
Xu Li was from Nanxi in Fujian province, hence his "qin system" is sometimes called "Nanxi Qin Tong".4

According to Xu Jian's History, Chapter 6a3, at least three works can be attributed to Xu Li:

  1. Zhong Lü (Bell Pitches)5
  2. Qin Tong (Qin Rules), 1 folio
        originally published together with,
    Wai Pian Xu (Extra Publication Continued), 1 folio?;
        has sample image at right.6
  3. Aoyin Yupu (Mysterious Sounds Jade Handbook).7

In addition, Rao Zongyi, Section 7 mentions:

Lü Jian (Inspection of Tones)8

In QSCB, Chapter 6c5 Xu Jian discusses what Qinlü Fawei had to say about Xu Li's writings. And in Chapter 6a3 he says that Xu Li's Qin Tong so influenced Wang Zhi that not only did he name his qin handbook Xilutang Qintong (1525), but he also included in it large parts if not the entirety of Xu Li's Qin Tong.

Xilutang Qintong, even before its Table of Contents, begins with introductory comments by a noted local official near Huang Shan, Tang Gao (see translation). Then after the ToC it continues with Wang Zhi's own preface. e what seems to be the entirety of, or at least extensive quotes from, Xu Li's Qin Tong. However, this is difficult to confirm because, to my knowledge, the original work did not survive, and Wang Zhi does not mention this title. The essay said to begin Qin Tong is actually called Zhui Gu (Pian).9 Thus the outline in Xilutang Qintong is,

However, the text there is rather different from other texts describing Xu Li's writing (e.g., in Qinlü Fawei). And whereas Xilutang Qintong does have numerous references to a Qin Tong, I have not yet found in it any direct mention of the name Xu Li.10

The original entry about Xu Li in Qin Shi Xu can be translated as follows:11

Xu Li was from Nanxi. He was fond of qin from youth. He studied the essentials of musical sound and mathematics, then after 20 years he put this information into a book called 鐘律 Zhong Lü. In 1255 he presented this to the Lizong emperor (r. 1225 - 1265), attaining official favor and being included in the examination system.

After the age of fifty, he devoted himself single-mindedly to the study of the qin, and composed one volume titled Qin Tong which included an Outer Chapter (外篇). He claimed: “With regard to the seven strings, I have corrected their names; the five tones, I have assigned each to its proper position. The result is clear and flawless, integrated yet unhindered — it removes chronic errors, attacks imperfections, dispels confusion, and clarifies doubts. Perhaps, in some small way, it achieves the goal.”

Indeed, (Xu Li) may be regarded as a meritorious figure in the field of qin scholarship.

Sources: "Catalogue of the Iron Qin and Bronze Sword Library" and (Xu Li's) "Essay on Pursuing Antiquity" (included in Xilutang Qintong).

Translation tentative, but it does seem to suggest that he completed his writing of the Qin Tong in the late 13th century CE.

 
Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1. Xu Li 徐理 (from 南溪 Nanxi in Fujian, hence Nanxi was a nickname)
Xu Li seems to have been quite a well known music expert in the 13th century: see See Xu Jian, Outline History, 6a3 And Rao Zongyi, Section 7. In addition to the discussion of his system in Qinlü Fawei he is also mentioned by Zhang Yan (詞源), Yuan Jue (琴述) and Yu Yan.

10363.369 and Bio/1936 both refer only to a different person named Xu Li (a Ming dynasty military official from Henan who died in 1406).
(Return)

2. 5 lines; sources given are:

However, apart from in Xilutang Qintong I have not found reference to Zhui Gu Pian.
(Return)

3. Image: 徐理琴統圖 Diagrams from Xu Li's Qin System
Copied from Xilutang Qintong, QQJC, III/30. I do not understand Xu Li's system.
(Return)

4. Nanxi Qin System (南溪琴統 Nanxi Qin Tong)
See QSCB, 6a3 as well as Qin Rules (or Qin System), below.
(Return)

5. Bell Tones (鐘律 Zhong Lü); also called 鐘律書 Zhonglü Shu (Belltones Book)
The comment in the Qinshi Xu biography that Xu Li worked on this for over 20 years (see also Xu Jian) suggests this was his major work, but I have not yet found further information about it.
(Return)

6. Qin Rules, 1 folio (琴統一卷 Qin Tong, yi juan)
    Extra Publication, continued (外篇敘 Wai Pian Xu)
Outlined in the Xilutang Qintong Table of Contents, QQJC, III/9-37 or 9-47? There is confusion here because XLTQT III/37-47 has another 外篇一卷 Wai Pian, 1 folio. Qinshu Cunmu #112 does not seem to clarify.
(Return)

7. Mysterious Sounds Jade Handbook (奧音玉譜 Aoyin Yupu)
Discussed by Chen Minzi in Qinlü Fawei?
(Return)

8. Inspection of Tones (律鑒 Lü Jian)
Rao is quoting 袁桷 Yuan Jue.
(Return)

10. See the beginning of the Xilutang Qintong Table of Contents
(Return)

9. QSCM entry (#112) on Qin Tong

Qinshu Cunmu records Qin Tong as only a 舊鈔本 "old handcopied volume". It has an introduction then the two excerpts, copied here more clearly than elsewhere.
(Return)

11. 徐理 琴史續 Xu Li: Qin Shi Xu #18 original text
The original text is as follows,

徐理，南溪人。幼卽好琴，研精音聲、算術、術積二十年，成一書曰《鐘律》。寶祐乙卯，獻於理宗，得叨恩科給。年五十後，一意治琴，著《琴統》一卷，《外篇》一卷。

自謂於七絃，各正其名；五音，各有其位。 瑩徹而無疵，錯綜而無礙；砭痼攻瑕，覺迷解惑，庶或得之。蓋亦琴學之功臣也。

出自《鐵琴銅劍書目》、《追古篇》。

In this text, 恩科 (from 得叨恩科給年五十後一意治琴) En ke refers to a special civil service examination.


(Return)

Return to QSCB, or to the Guqin ToC.