A Musical Conversation
Marquis Wen of Wei Asks Zi Xia about Music
Zi Xia, one of Confucius' students and a well-known educator, lived during the fourth century BC in the Marquis Wen's domain of Wei. The marquis and educator once had this conversation about music.
Marquis Wen of Wei: When I wear my court clothes and listen to ancient music, I quickly fall asleep. But when I listen to music from the Zheng or Wei Kingdoms, I never feel tired. Please tell me why the ancient music tires people and the new music appeals to people?
Zi Xia: When ancient music is performed, it moves cleanly and sounds peaceful and broad. The string and wind instruments follow the drum's rhythm. The music always starts with the drum, and ends with cymbals. Ya (a type of a song) controls the speed of the music. Musicians of noble character express deep meaning through the music and praise our ancient holy emperors' outstanding achievements. Ancient music guides people to cultivate themselves, responsibly manage their family affairs, and even bring peace to the world.
Modern music sounds chaotic and uneven. The music immerses listeners in unrighteous and evil elements so deeply they cannot escape. Dwarfs, singers and actors sometime perform while it is played, men and women are mixed together and people hold no distinction between fathers and sons. When done, the music has neither expressed deep meaning nor praised the achievements of the ancient holy emperors. You've asked me about the music, but what you actually like is the sound. Music and sound are similar but different.
Marquis Wen of Wei: Please tell me the difference.
Zi Xia: In ancient times, heaven and earth were harmonious, the four seasons were proper. People cultivated self discipline and developed compassion and virtue. As a result, they enjoyed bumper crops year after year. Diseases did not manifest, demons and evil did not rise up, and it was a peaceful world. A great sage made rules that governed the proper conduct between the emperors and court officials, between fathers and sons. When people followed these rules, world affairs stabilized. On this basis, proper musical rhythms were set up, the five sounds were mixed together, and musical instruments played together to accompany the singing of poems. This was called the sound of virtue. Only the sound of virtue can be called music. But what you like now might be called the sound of indulgence.
Marquis Wen of Wei: Please tell me where indulgent sounds came from.
Zi Xia: The Zheng Kingdom's music is frivolous and flirtatious. It arouses licentiousness and immorality. The Song Kingdom's music is sentimental and weak, and it depresses one's will. The Wei Kingdom's music has a rapid rhythm which tires one's mind. The Qi Kingdom's music is arrogant and evil, and it makes one become overbearing. These four kinds of music make one indulge in wild songs and women and are harmful to moral integrity, and so cannot be used during religious ceremonies.
In The Book of Poems we read: 'Our ancestors would only listen to austere and harmonious pieces.' Being austere one shows respect, being harmonious makes one affable. When one is respectful and affable, what cannot be done? A country's monarch must guard his preferences. His court will do whatever the monarch likes. The common people will imitate what is popular above. This is the meaning in The Book of Poems, 'It is very easy to lead the populace astray.'
From “The Record of Rites” used with permission of www.pureinsight.org
