‘Principles of Whistling’-Hsiao Chih–Anonymous

E.D. Edwards

doi:10.1017/S0041977X00061796

‘Principles of Whistling’-Hsiao Chih–Anonymous

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 December 2009

E.D. Edwards

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Music has its origin in Nature, a fact which is recognized by the Chinese. Music may be conscious (men) or unconscious (animals, storm, etc.). Vocal imitation preceded instrumental, which may have originated in the limitations of the human vocal chords.

Speech is communication between man and man, between mind and mind; music is communication between man and Nature, the gods, the spirits. Ancient music was no more than the sounds of Nature combined into some sort of system. As we see in this work, vocal imitation of the sounds of Nature came before instrumental music. Learners of whistling were numerous when Shun ‘developed music and invented the lute’.

Type: Articles
Information: Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies , Volume 20 , Issue 1 , February 1957 , pp. 217 - 229

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0041977X00061796 [Opens in a new window]
Copyright: Copyright © School of Oriental and African Studies 1957

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^{page 217 note 1} See p. 219.

^{page 217 note 2} See p. 223.

^{page 217 note 3} See p. 223.

^{page 217 note 4}

^{page 217 note 5}

^{page 218 note 1} , the work occurs also in T'ang Jên Shuo Huei (another name for the T'ang Tai Ts'ung Shu). See Edwards, E.D., Chinese prose literature of the T'ang period (2 vols., London, Probsthain, 1937–1938), I, 178–80.Google Scholar It may also be found in (2) T'ang Yü Lin edited by Wang Tang of the Sung; in (3) Feng Shih Win Chien Chi by Fêng Yen of T'ang; in part in (4) T'ai P'ing Kuang Chi . edited by Li Fang y and others in the Sung dynasty; in the (5) Wei Liao , edited by Kao Ssŭ-Sun of the Sung Dynasty; in (6) Ku Shih Wên Fang Hsiao Shuo , by Ku Yüan , of the Ming Dynasty; in (7) I Mên Kuang Tu, by Chou Li Ching of the Ming and in (8) Ts'ung Shu Chi Chêng (Vol. 1680), published in 1935 by the Commercial Press.

^{page 218 note 2} The Fêng Shih Wên Chien Chi (ch. 5) says that Sun Kuang wrote this work. The T'ang Yüx; Lin agrees. (M. K.)

^{page 218 note 3}

^{page 218 note 4} Ta li shih p'ing shih. Ta li shih is the ‘Supreme Court’, and P'ing shih is the ‘Judge’. (M. K.)

^{page 218 note 5} See pp. 220–221.

^{page 218 note 6} See p. 220.

^{page 218 note 7} Ku Shih Wen Fang Hsiao Shuo also has Preface under the title, meaning that the preface of the work begins with Fu ch'i chi yu hou and ends with Miao yin chin i I Mên Kuang Tu Pen also has the word Hsü Preface under the title. (M.K.)

This work is difficult to translate, and I have to thank Professor Ma Khiam for notes (to which I have added ‘ M.K.’ in gratitude). I also thank Mr. T'ai Chen-Hua for translating them for me.

I have also to thank Mr. Ho Kuang-Chung for collating the texts which, when he did them, I did not expect to see, and for biographies, copied from the Chinese.

^{page 218 note 8} Hsiao. The Shih I Chi says, ‘In the West there is the Yin Hsiao country whose inhabitants are all good at whistling. Men can be heard at 100 li and women at 50 li. It is like the sound of the shêng (a small instrument consisting of a number of pipes of different lengths and a spout, through which the player blows out or sucks in air while fingering the key-notes), or a yu (an instrument consisting of 36 reed-pipes).

^{page 219 note 1} li = ½ of a mile.

^{page 219 note 2} ‘(Lao) Chün transmitted it to the (Western) Royal Mother’: The T'ai P'ing Kuang Chi, ch. 392, p. 6, quoting the Hsiao Chih, says ‘Lao Tzŭ taught it to the Western Queen Mother’ T'ai Shang Tao chün a title of Lao Tzŭ. Fêng Shih Wên Chien Chi, Vol. v, has the same. I Mên Kuang Tu says ‘Lao Chün Shou Wang Mu’. ‘Lao Tzŭ taught it to the Queen Mother’. The I Mên adds ‘Lao’ here. (M.K.)

^{page 219 note 3} Hsi Wang Mu: Mayers, Chinese reader's manual, ed. 1910, 572. The xShan Hai Ching says, ‘Hsi Wang Mu is like a human being, but has a leopard's tail and tiger teeth, and can whistle’.

^{page 219 note 4} Nan Chi , the South Pole, is the name of a star, meaning long life. Chên . means Hsien in T'ang writings. Chên jên means ‘a Fairy’ (Hsien Jên ). (M.K.)

^{page 219 note 5} Kuang Ch'êng-Tzŭ: Lived in the reign of Huang Ti (2697 B.C., Mayers, 225), in the Kung- T'ung Mountains, in Kansu. A recluse, living in a stone cottage. Huang Ti questioned him as to the essentials of the Tao teaching. (Mayers, 298.)

^{page 219 note 6} Fêng Hou was a minister of Huang Ti (Mayers, 135).

^{page 219 note 7} Hsiao Fu: Father of Whistling.

^{page 219 note 8} Wu Kuang was a man of Hsia, who was seven inches tall.

^{page 219 note 9} Yao (Mayers, 900).

^{page 219 note 10} Shun (Mayers, 617).

^{page 219 note 11} Shun invented the lute. Ch'in ; the I Mên has Sê . The Encyclopedia Sinica says that there were only five notes until 1300 B.C.

^{page 219 note 12} Yü (2357–2255 B.C.).

^{page 219 note 13} Chin , A.D. 265–419.

^{page 219 note 14} Sun Kung : an eccentric. The Shui Ching Chu says Sun used to go up Mount I Yang . He went to the top; travelled and whistled. The sound was like that of a bamboo flute or an organ of 36 pipes. It shook the hills and valleys. His formal name was Kung-Ho. Having no home he lived in a cave. He played the seven stringed lute, and those who heard it all loved it.

^{page 219 note 15} Tai Hsing Shan . Mountains between Honan and Hopei.

^{page 219 note 16} Yüan Szŭ-tsung . A man of Chin (265–317). The Ch'in Liu Fêng Su Chuan says, ‘Yüan Szŭ-tsung sang and whistled, and the sound accorded with the ch'in ’. In the Chu Lin Ch'i Hsien Lun it is said,‘Yüan Chieh was good at whistling. The sound was audible at several hundred steps. He travelled to the Su Mên Hills, where there was a recluse of name unknown. Chieh went with him to talk; the recluse laughed but did not listen. Then Chieh whistled and the recluse also whistled. The sound was like that of the male and female (phoenix)’.

^{page 220 note 1} They I Mên adds the word ‘spirits’, shên after ‘pleases’.

^{page 220 note 2} ‘Understands’: this ju refers to ‘the door’ on p. 1 of text. Certain inner and outward conditions being satisfied, and certain poses induced in the body, notes are chosen and presently effects are produced on the feelings, and emotions, and one then ‘enters’.

^{page 221 note 1} Read Chên for Ch'ên.

^{page 221 note 2} P'i This word should be read hsü.

^{page 221 note 3} The five virtues are Jên , Chih , Hsin , that is benevolence, righteousness, propriety, knowledge, and sincerity.

^{page 222 note 1} According to the Li Chi Yüeh Ling the correspondence of the months and the tunes are as follows:

^{page 222 note 2} Tz'ŭ Hai, section , p. 252. In ancient times in order to regulate instruments musicians used to cut bamboo into a pipe. Quality and pitch can be distinguished according to the length of the pipe. There are six Yin and six Yang. Yang is Lü, and Yin is Lü.

^{page 223 note 1} Chüeh: substituted by I Mên for ; Erh.

^{page 224 note 1} Ch'ing Chüeh: ‘Clear Music’ this may be called.

^{page 224 note 2} Shih K'uang .

^{page 224 note 3} Shou . The I Mên givea Ai .

^{page 225 note 1} Kung Sun: I Mên has Sun Kung.

^{page 225 note 2} Shih K'uang: musicians of the Ch'in kingdom during the Spring and Autumn period. See Who's who in China, published by the Commercial Press, p. 773. (M.K.) See note 2 on previous page.

^{page 225 note 3} Since both the Yin and theye Yang airs have been in motion, and the earth is above the ‘two airs’, how can it be kept steady ?

^{page 226 note 1} Su Mên Mountains: favourite place for recluses; in Honan-Hopei.

^{page 226 note 2} The tune is named ‘Su Mên’. Wei- should be wei ; they are used as alternatives in old texts. (M.K.)

^{page 226 note 3} See note 1 on p. 224.

^{page 227 note 1} Liu Kên: See Hou Han Shu, biography of Liu Kên. Liu Kên's story may be briefly summarized as follows: Liu is insulted by the local governor. He then gives a whistle to summon the grandfather in the seventh generation to come. He comes at once, and reprimands his grandson, the governor, for being so impolite. The governor is frightened and apologizes, then he sends Liu away. (M.K.)

^{page 227 note 2} Wu Shao: the three sounds are Tzŭ , Yü and Chüeh .

^{page 227 note 3} Chüeh means T'ui ‘to retreat or withdraw’, or Chih ‘to stop’. Chüeh lao fang is the formula of perpetual youth.

^{page 228 note 1} Encyclopedia Sinica, 386, left column: ‘To the first series the Chinese added more, one higher and one lower ‘. I believe that these, the Ultra-Scale Notes, are the Pi and this chapter might well be headed ‘Ultra-Scale Notes’.

^{page 228 note 2} ‘I was not favoured ’: I almost translated this ‘I was upset’, since instead of ‘cheerful’ I Mên has yang ‘discontented’.

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