Classic of Music
Encyclopedia
The Classic of Music is sometimes referred to as the sixth "Chinese classic text
". It was lost by the time of the Han Dynasty
.
A few traces remain and can be found in other ancient Chinese classics like Zuo Zhuan
(左傳), Zhou li (The Rites of Zhou), and the Classic of Rites
(禮記, Liji). A version preserved in the Classic of Rites (chapter 19, "Yue ji" 樂記) is much dilapidated.
The Classic of Music was a Confucian
text; it is believed to be important to the interpretation of the Classic of Poetry (詩經, Shijing), another of the Five Classics.
ascribes it to Gongsun Ni Zi, a second-generation disciple of Confucius (5–4 cc. BC). This version had much spread during the Tang dynasty. However, the present Yue ji contains reference to Marquis Wen of Wei and Zi Xia's meeting which could not have happened during Gongsun Ni Zi's life (not before 422 BC). Qiu Qiongsun claims that another person named Gongsun Ni lived during the Han times, authored the Yue ji and later was erroneously identified as the better known Warring States character.
Yue ji is mentioned in the "Yiwen zhi" chapter of Han shu
, which is built on Liu Xin
's Qi lue. There its authorship is ascribed to Liu De (son of emperor Jing
) and his friends. The contents of Yue ji are fully present in the Yue shu chapter of the Shiji, however this chapter was most probably not authored by Sima Qian
.
Valuable evidence is provided by Kong Yingda (574-648) in his Liji zhengyi: in his editorial work Liu Xiang came across another Yue ji variant, much different from Liu De's. Unfortunately, of the 23 chapters known to Liu Xiang, 12 are unknown.
Scott Cook's research concludes on the WS authorship of Yue ji as the most probable.
Material from the Yue ji can be also found in Xunzi ("Yue lun"), "Xici zhuan" of the Yi jing
, "Great Preface to the Shi jing
, Lüshi Chunqiu
, Shuo yuan, etc.
Chinese classic texts
Chinese classic texts, or Chinese canonical texts, today often refer to the pre-Qin Chinese texts, especially the Neo-Confucian titles of Four Books and Five Classics , a selection of short books and chapters from the voluminous collection called the Thirteen Classics. All of these pre-Qin texts...
". It was lost by the time of the Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
.
A few traces remain and can be found in other ancient Chinese classics like Zuo Zhuan
Zuo Zhuan
The Zuo Zhuan , sometimes translated as the Chronicle of Zuo or the Commentary of Zuo, is among the earliest Chinese works of narrative history and covers the period from 722 BCE to 468 BCE. It is one of the most important sources for understanding the history of the Spring and Autumn Period...
(左傳), Zhou li (The Rites of Zhou), and the Classic of Rites
Classic of Rites
The Classic of Rites , also known as the Book of Rites, Book of Customs, the Record of Rites, was one of the Chinese Five Classics of the Confucian canon. It described the social forms, governmental system, and ancient/ceremonial rites of the Zhou Dynasty...
(禮記, Liji). A version preserved in the Classic of Rites (chapter 19, "Yue ji" 樂記) is much dilapidated.
The Classic of Music was a Confucian
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
text; it is believed to be important to the interpretation of the Classic of Poetry (詩經, Shijing), another of the Five Classics.
Yue ji
The authorship of Yue ji is a subject of debate. Sui shuBook of Sui
The Book of Sui was the official history of the Chinese dynasty Sui Dynasty, and it ranks among the official Twenty-Four Histories of imperial China. It was compiled by a team of historians led by the Tang Dynasty official Wei Zheng and was completed in 636.-External links:* of the Book of Sui,...
ascribes it to Gongsun Ni Zi, a second-generation disciple of Confucius (5–4 cc. BC). This version had much spread during the Tang dynasty. However, the present Yue ji contains reference to Marquis Wen of Wei and Zi Xia's meeting which could not have happened during Gongsun Ni Zi's life (not before 422 BC). Qiu Qiongsun claims that another person named Gongsun Ni lived during the Han times, authored the Yue ji and later was erroneously identified as the better known Warring States character.
Yue ji is mentioned in the "Yiwen zhi" chapter of Han shu
Book of Han
The Book of Han, Hanshu or History of the Former Han Dynasty |Fan Ye]] . Various scholars have estimated that the earliest material covered in the book dates back to between 206 and 202 BCE...
, which is built on Liu Xin
Liu Xin
Liu Xin , later changed name to Liu Xiu , courtesy name Zijun , was a Chinese astronomer, historian, and editor during the Xin Dynasty . He was the son of Confucian scholar Liu Xiang and an associate of other prominent thinkers such as the philosopher Huan Tan...
's Qi lue. There its authorship is ascribed to Liu De (son of emperor Jing
Emperor Jing of Han
Emperor Jing of Han was an emperor of China in the Han Dynasty from 156 BC to 141 BC. His reign saw the limit and curtailment of power of feudal princes which resulted in the Rebellion of the Seven States in 154 BC. Emperor Jing managed to crush the revolt and princes were thereafter denied rights...
) and his friends. The contents of Yue ji are fully present in the Yue shu chapter of the Shiji, however this chapter was most probably not authored by Sima Qian
Sima Qian
Sima Qian was a Prefect of the Grand Scribes of the Han Dynasty. He is regarded as the father of Chinese historiography for his highly praised work, Records of the Grand Historian , a "Jizhuanti"-style general history of China, covering more than two thousand years from the Yellow Emperor to...
.
Valuable evidence is provided by Kong Yingda (574-648) in his Liji zhengyi: in his editorial work Liu Xiang came across another Yue ji variant, much different from Liu De's. Unfortunately, of the 23 chapters known to Liu Xiang, 12 are unknown.
Scott Cook's research concludes on the WS authorship of Yue ji as the most probable.
Material from the Yue ji can be also found in Xunzi ("Yue lun"), "Xici zhuan" of the Yi jing
Yi Jing
I Ching is one of Chinese classic texts.I Ching may also refer to:* I Ching , a Tang Dynasty Buddhist monk* I Ching , fictional, blind martial artist published by DC Comics...
, "Great Preface to the Shi jing
Shi Jing
The Classic of Poetry , translated variously as the Book of Songs, the Book of Odes, and often known simply as its original name The Odes, is the earliest existing collection of Chinese poems and songs. It comprises 305 poems and songs, with many range from the 10th to the 7th centuries BC...
, Lüshi Chunqiu
Lüshi Chunqiu
The Lüshi Chunqiu is an encyclopedic Chinese classic text compiled around 239 BCE under the patronage of the Qin Dynasty Chancellor Lü Buwei...
, Shuo yuan, etc.