Shi Xiang

Life and death: about the sixth century BC

Dynasty: Spring and Autumn Period

Official position: Weiguo Music Officer

Comment: Confucius once learned to play the piano from his teacher Xiang.

The life of the character

Shi Juan is a great musician. He can write music scores of past dynasties and is good at creating new songs to replace ancient sounds. He wrote a lot of new songs. Every new work has to be performed in the Palace. When I meet Gong Ling's favorite music, I will even play for several days, so I won't leave.

Shi Juan is famous for playing the piano, with excellent memory and extraordinary hearing. Did everything wrong? Ten Articles of the Past tells the story of his trip to the State of Jin with him: On the way, he lived in Kami, Pumi, Zuno, where he heard new drums in the middle of the night. He thought it was a ghost, so he ordered Shi Juan to write it down. Shi Juan was also moved by this song, so he "sat on the piano, listened and wrote." The next day, Shi Juan stayed up all night, practicing this song while listening. At first light, he played it to Wei Linggong. In the Jin Dynasty, Shi Juan helped Duke Jinping to play the piano and drums, but before it was over, the State of Jin stopped playing Shi Kuang, saying that it was "decadent music" which was dubbed by the Shang Dynasty, and that "those who heard this sound would cut their country" because the weft could not be played.

Shi Juan has a very good sense of sound. He once helped Duke Jinping check the chimes he had cast. Shi Kuang, a musician from the State of Jin, said that the clock was inaccurate, but Jin Pinggong disagreed. Later, I asked Shi Juan to confirm that it was true.

Main work

Shi Juan is a great musician. He can write music scores of past dynasties and is good at creating new songs instead of ancient sounds. He created a large number of new songs, such as Li Hong and Ying Ping, representing spring, and Chen Ming, Jiao Quan, Zhu Hua and Liu Jin, representing autumn. These songs and music were novel in style, and their tunes were lively or delicate and deep, which broke away from the old framework of Song Ya and were loved by the people at that time.

Weak and depressing music.

In the Spring and Autumn Period, there was a talented musician named Shi Juan in Wei Linggong.

On one occasion, Shi Juan followed Wei Linggong to visit the State of Jin. When they arrived at a place called Sangjian near Pushui, it was getting late and they stayed in a nearby post office. In the middle of the night, Wei Linggong suddenly heard someone playing the piano on Pu Shui, and the sound of the piano flickered. Wei Linggong thought, in the quiet night, facing the sparkling water, it is really a beautiful thing to enjoy the moon and listen to the piano. Wei Linggong then asked the waiter if they could hear the piano, but unexpectedly, no one heard anything. Wei Linggong was very angry and ordered to get Shi Juan. Shi Juan quickly asked what was the order. Wei Linggong said, "I obviously heard someone playing the piano, but when I asked around, I said I didn't hear them. Maybe there is something wrong with their ears. I want you to write it down and play it for me! " Shi Juan immediately promised: "OK!" Just sit at the piano table and listen. Wei Linggong and his entourage went to bed, while Shi Juan was still sitting by the window. The next morning, Shi Juan told Wei Linggong, "I have written that song, but I still need to practice. Please stay one more day! " Wei Linggong agreed. A day later, Shi Juan played music to Wei Linggong, which was exactly the same as what Wei Linggong heard in Lishui. Wei Linggong Da Yue. When they arrived in the state of Jin, Duke Jinping gave them a banquet. After three glasses of wine, Wei Linggong proudly said to Duke Jinping, "I brought a new tune this time. Now let my musician Juan play for you! " Gong Ping promised: "Good!" Shi Juan immediately arranged the music and vividly played the piano music just learned from Pu Shui in front of everyone. Halfway through the play, I saw Shi Kuang, the' musician' of Duke Ping of Jin, standing up excitedly, clutching Shi Juan's strings with one hand and saying, "This is the sound of national subjugation, you can't listen!" A word made all the people present look at each other. They didn't know why Shi Kuang said that. Duke Jinping asked Shi Kuang, "Where did this start?" Shi Kuang said: "This piece of music is a popular decadent music, and it was written. Yin indulged in debauchery and this kind of music all day, lived a corrupt life, and finally died without asking about political affairs. After Yin's death, he fled to the water with Qin in his arms, and he was seen to commit suicide by drowning. Shi Juan, you must have heard this song in the ordinary water? " ShiJuan nodded in surprise. Jin Pinggong said casually: "I am old, and what I like all my life is music." Let go of your hand and let Shi Juan finish the bullet. " Shi Kuang can't, so we have to raise my hand and let ShiJuan continue to play. At the end of the song, he said, "This decadent music is weak, and Yin died because of listening to it. Master should learn from it and never repeat the mistakes of Zhou Wang! "

Hidden traces

On one occasion, Wei Linggong went to the State of Jin to attend the inauguration ceremony of a big project, and specially brought a musician, Shi Juan, to play music to congratulate him. Gong Ling, Shi Juan and his party stayed here via Lishui. At night, I heard singing, music, kicking, screaming and laughing in the distance. It turns out that people here hold sacrificial activities in the moonlight according to the custom, and both men and women should bathe in the water to wash away impurity and ominous. Young people take this opportunity to play, make love, sing and dance, which is really lively.

In order to learn more folk songs from Pushui people, Shi Juan stayed for a few more days, learning to sing while recording, and finally learned a lot of local folk songs. She left Pushui with satisfaction and came to the State of Jin. Jin held a grand ceremony to welcome Wei's distinguished guests, and the guests and the host were immersed in a happy atmosphere. When the wine was strong, Wei Linggong asked Shi Juan to sing the people collected on the way to the State of Jin. Shi Juan sings while playing the piano, sometimes slowly and urgently, sometimes high, sometimes low, sometimes jumping, sometimes beautiful and interesting. At this time, Shi Kuang, a musician from the State of Jin, stopped him and said, "Brother Juan must have sung the Song of Common Water. Zhou Wang was obsessed with these songs, and 700,000 troops were beaten to pieces, and finally set themselves on fire and died. Teacher Yan also felt that his life was in danger and died in Lishui. Today, it's ridiculous for Brother Juan to sing these voices of national subjugation to our monarch. He also collected information from the people and expressed their feelings. As for the demise of Zhou Wang, it has nothing to do with these songs. Because he was extravagant, extorted money, abused capital punishment, refused to listen to advice, and lost the morale of the army and the people. Brother Kuang, am I right? "

Shi Kuang thought it over carefully and thought that what Shi Juan said was reasonable. He has been conquered by Shi Juan's words and said to Shi Juan humbly: "Please forgive Shi Juan's brother for being rude just now! The general water song you sang has indeed been circulated among the people for many years. Today, you recorded it, which is really a great achievement. I admire it! Admire! "

Wei is also a music lover. Every time Shi Juan has a new work, he always comes to the palace to sing (play) for Gong Ling. In case of works that Gong Ling is particularly interested in, he can even sing and play for days on end. Finally, Gong Ling always gives warm praise and generous rewards. In this way, it caused the jealousy of the minister qi. One day, it was said that the music given by the teacher to the king was full of fornication and evil indulgence. He is not praising the king's literary martial arts, but praising some vulgar things among the people. It is also said that the new music created by Shi Juan has destroyed the harmony, harmony and cultivation of the ancient music "elegance" and "ode". If you continue to play, it is inevitable that your rank will be inappropriate and your qualifications will not be prepared. Suggest that the king abolish it immediately. Wei Linggong was a little unhappy, and immediately retorted: Ai Qing, don't you think this is a bit too much? Shi Juan's new music is novel in conception, lively in tune and orderly in beat change. The lonely king was so happy that all the ministers listened. What's wrong with this music? Qi was annoyed at this reprimand, but he was afraid to take it out on the king of Qi, so he had to submit to humiliation helplessly.

One day, in order to vent their anger, Qi Apollo led several soldiers to Shi Juan's residence and said to Shi Juan, "Do you know the crime?" Teacher Juan asked inexplicably, "What crime did my teacher Juan commit?" Qi Apollo pretended, "Are you confusing the holy family by creating new music?" He turned and ordered the soldiers: "Search for me! Find out all the music scores and musical instruments and burn them! " Shi Juan stepped forward to stop her, but was pushed away by the soldiers, so she had to watch the music score and beloved musical instrument written by her painstaking efforts for most of her life turn to ashes in an instant. That's not all. Qi Apollo also ordered the teacher Juan to leave Kyoto within three days.

Faced with this situation, Shi Juan was in great pain and said angrily: "You are a little man who praises the ancient times, but you don't know how to innovate, exclude dissidents and envy talents. You can burn my music and musical instruments with your strength, but you can't burn my music. Wait, I will definitely write more and better new music. " Then he went back to the house, packed his things and left.

Since then, Shi Juan has been living in seclusion, continuing his unfinished music career and creating a large number of pop music works.