University of Nanking - Linguist Yearbook (Nanking, China)

Page 15 text:

THE Music , Q v OLD I, , - CATHAY iqffw g ,.,.... O one who has recently come to China, Chinese music may mean the doleful wail of the bamboo flute, or perhaps the strange and frequent rendering of Hot Time in Our Old Town To-night by the band of some lJ04SSing funeral procession. As such, Chinese music fails to charm. But with music, as with much in China, our failure to appreciate is due to our own ignorance. A glance into the history and meaning of Chinese music discloses a fascinating field of studv We soon see that we of the West are indebted to this ancient people f01' 11111011 that iS essential to OUP own modern music. Legend gives us the story of the Emperor Hwang-ti who is said to have invented music. This emperor of long ago was pleased by the notes Of the Phoenix: so he commanded his minister to have Some bamboo reeds Clit which would produce an imitation of the twelve tones of the bird. The Six strong clear notes of the male are echoed by the answering n0t0S Of his matc. These twelve notes give US tho Cqulvfl-lem Of Ollr Chromatic scale. , Although this is but n legend, it is interesting to know mat it 0011108 '1Own to us from B. C. 2,600 fthe time of N0-will and is looked UPON with favor in Chinese histories of music. Much that we know of Chinese music in its begillllillgf lllllSt be learned from the traditions of the people. However, W0 do have some VCU' accurate and definite facts which must he accepted US hiswfy- FOP much Of this information we are indebted to a little boflli- Cllifmfe M'lLS'fC, Written SOYYIG YCZWS f1g0 by Mrs. Timothy Richards. MVS RiChfLI'flS has given us fl3l

Page 14 text:

12 CH1NA'S NEW YEAR The business men of China have eustoms different from those of the Europeans and Amerieans. O11 the fifth day of the mouth all clerks are invited to dine with their employers. The clerk who is going to be discharged is quietly given a cup of tea. In certain trades, if the manager is to be discharged, the fish is put on the table with the hr-ad pointing toward him. No word is spoken. l'llvlo IAN .lllsxiuu Vlmln lfIlil'I71lH ln the Lund of Lanterns Of all the festivities. perhaps the buying of lanterns is most enjoyed. The eighth, the thirteenth, the fifteenth and the eighteenth are set aside for their display. The lanterns are made of paper in the shape of horses, rabbits or fish. A street full of them is a gay sight indeed. After the fifteenth. work is resumed. An old Chinese saying is, After New Year, no man playsfl V lVritlvn. jbr 'l'nlc LING u1s'r by WANG YAo-T'1N1:, .-Al.9s1'sllII1l 1i1f'!lfl Tmclz er.

Page 16 text:

I 4 CHINESE MUSIC the result of many years spent in the accumulation of material taken directly from Chinese books on music, and also interesting illustrations of the music of thc people. Music with the Chinese has had a real mission from its earliest history. As in most countries, music in China was primarily used in the worship of the gods. According to the legend of the twelve tones of the Phwnix, the first two notes were used in the worship of the spirits of the sky, the second two in the worship of the earth. the third i11 the worship of Wifi ' 1 ' 1 n l , l Pliulo l1y.lI'ission Photo llurcan M usiclnns of Old Catlmy the points of the compass, the fourth in worshipping the spirits of- the mountains and rivers, the fifth in worshipping the spirits of female ancestors, and the siXfh in worshipping the spirits of male ancestors. Music from the earliest time has been considered indispensable in the worship of Heaven and lC21l'lh. at funerals, at weddings, and at state funetions of all kinds. Before the time of Confucius QB. U, 5001 music was one of the six arts. Confucius is known to have accompanied himself while singing.