University of Nanking - Linguist Yearbook (Nanking, China)

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16 CHINESE MUSIC It is interesting to note the great difference between Chinese music and the music of the West. The five notes of the Chinese scale sound to thc car of a foreigner monotonous and weird. We delight in extremes The Chinese musician is a true son of Confucius in his loyalty to thc Golden Mean. We demand harmony, To the Chinese harmony means a combination of instruments, never a combination of several tones on one instrument. A church organist in China finds it wise to play only the air of the hymn to be sung, for the congregation becomes hopelessly confused, not knowing whether the bass. tenor, alto, or soprano is the tune to be sung. ' The following is a typical popular air in China. Mrs. Richards suggests that this air, known as Ba Bam is sung by more people than any other one tune in the world. ., Chinese harmony, as has been said, is produced by a combination of instruments that are typically Chinese. All eight varieties may be heard among musicians to-day. In the time of the earliest music we find that stone instruments and jade flutes were used in state ceremonies. The musical stones, made like a carpenters square and suspended in two rows of sixes, are used in the temple services. Bells cymbals and gongs belong to a group of metal instruments used on many and varied occasions. The silk stringed instruments include the ever-present fiddle, the moon guitar, and the highly esteemed Chin, which is made by stretching seven silk strings over a curved board. This instrument is played only by the educated class and is reserved for state occasions. fOoncluded on page 1223

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THE LINGUIST 15 All ancient book on education states that thirteen is the proper age for a boy to begin the study of music. All definite knowledge of ancient musical history and all the ancient Chinese music were lost in B. C. 200 when all Chinese books were destroyed by the edict of the Emperor. Even now old scholars feel that music is a lost UPU. though during the centuries since the great destruction a new system Of music has developed that is worthy of the best Chinese traditions. The five tones that we think of as Do, CRP, Mi, Sol, La, form the present scale of music. These five notes carry with them a wealth of mefmillg to the Chinese musician, as the following quotation from a Chinese book on music, translated by Mrs. Richards, will show. DO is earthg its symbol a Prince, its nature faithfulness, its taste Tglletlg lg color yellow, its business is with thought, position central, its n Q , its sound heavy but easy, like a cow lowing at drinking water, lt IS feunded on union. H RB is mineralg its symbol a minister, its nature righteousness, its c0l0l' white, its business is with speech, its position is westerly, its taste lmlltlellt. its length 72, its sound clear and quick, like a sheep , lavmg lost its companiong it is founded on expansion. ill' , uM'l is V05-fetahlei its symbol a subject, its nature love. Its taste sour, its color green, its business is with appear- ill duces- UTS position is eastern, its length 64, its sound is Mig, defensive and careful like a pheasant lighting on a branch. It ls founded on courage. Sol is fire, its symbol affairs, its nature worship, its Faste bitter, its color Vermilion, its business is with seeing, its position is southern. its length 54, its sound is overflowing and quick, like a pig Sorefl-millgg it is founded on independence. ' . Lal is watery its symbol things, its nature knowledge, its taste salt, its Color black, its business is with hearing. UFS Posltlon IS 1l0l'llh0I'l1, i'0S length 48, its sound is scattered and hollow, like a horse nelglllllg in the deserts it is founded on putting forth. Again we read, Listening to Do one feels comfortable and broadg to RH one feels upright and fond of righteousness: to Mi one feels pity and l0ve: to Sol one feels fond of doing good: to La one feels Correct and fond of religionf'

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1 i CHILD LIFE 'HW' HINAV e .......-A NANKING CHILDREN--Some Pictures. AO-HSIANG and Mao-teo-r are strangely ignorant- of the geography of China and strangely wise about their ow11 little rented lialf-acre, Ev . , V. HA H fir.-ISlU.,tI Cry four weeks-six weeks in Xilllill-iIl1llC .1 new crop o 1 L 111 1 10 e , , . 0111111011 xegctuble green, grows under their hands. At all tnnes of day tl - - . 'C U10 small brothers llli1V be seen at work-setting out Dlants, hoeing, eq' . - V . . . ' nylllg V2'Lf01' from Stug11a11tpo11ds and spraying, cutting, unclbu11dl111gthe greclli or sta1rt1i11g oil to lll21l'li0t witl1 two baskets full across their shoulders. r y , U1011' futher is l'llCllll1EltlC and nsthinuticg their mother, of whom tl1e boys Ntlll Speak reverently und te11derly, d1ed flll'0C years ago. B130-llSiZll1g and 'Ia0'f0O-r are luds under fourteen, hut they f21l'1l1, cook, CHFI1 H10 eighteen douflls 21111111111 rent, and keep the family of three alive and happy. They have 11ot heen beyond Hsizt-kwun since they can l'ClllCllllJCl', they do not knflw i11 what direction Sllilllgllill is or 1'Cliillg 01' Clulffnl- AH1eI'icz1 is ll , Somewhere far off, But 13110 Qfgoks and turns of N:111k1ng streets and the 17121005 where their greens sell hesb HPC 017011 Scogmllily to tl1c111. YY lhey lmve never looked inside un aritlnnetie hook, 'Wt fhcy HPC Cxglerts III mental z1ritl1n1ctie und Chinese currency. H1111 HPC 1'H1'0ly cheated i11 m0l10y t1l'2'lllS2LUtlOllS. 1 The futher was o1-igilmllv from Hllllilll province, of Solid and respectable fll1'lllCI' class and can read qlliffl well, HS the well- tllUl11lJOCl old Chinese novels in his hut bc-ap witness. His futlierly ?tll1lJltlOll WHS stirred recently when his boys WC,-0 given u set of the Popular 1177