1
樂者,太古聖人治情之具也。 人有血氣生知之性,喜怒哀樂之情。 情感物而動於中,聲成文而應於外。 聖王乃調之以律度,文之以歌頌,蕩之以鐘石,播之以弦管,然後可以滌精靈,可以祛怨思。 施之于邦國則朝廷序,施之於天下則神祇格,施之於賓宴則君臣和,施之于戰陣則士民勇。
Music was the tool the earliest sages used to govern the passions. People are born with blood and breath, with innate understanding—and with joy, anger, grief, and pleasure. Feeling answers to the world inside; shaped sound answers outside. The sage-kings set pitch to measure it, gave it words in praise, shook it through bronze and stone, breathed it through string and pipe—so the mind could be rinsed clean and brooding anger let go. Set it on a kingdom and the court falls into rank; set it on the world and gods and ghosts attend; set it at a feast and ruler and subject find accord; set it in the ranks and commoners and troops take heart.
2
三五之代,世有厥官,故虞廷振干羽之容,周人立弦誦之教。 洎蒼精道喪,戰國塵飛,禮樂出於諸侯,《雅》、《頌》淪於衰俗。 齊竽燕築,俱非皦繹之音; 東缶西琴,各寫哇淫之狀。 乃至播鞀入漢,師摯寢弦。 延陵有自鄶之譏,孔子起聞《韶》之歎。 及始皇一統,傲視百王。 鐘鼓滿于秦宮,無非鄭、衛; 歌舞陳於漢廟,並匪《咸》、《韶》。 而九成、六變之容,八佾、四懸之制,但存其數,罕達其情。 而制氏所傳,形容而已。 武、宣之世,天子弘儒,采夜誦之詩,考從臣之賦,朝吟蘭殿,暮奏竹宮,乃命協律之官,始制禮神之曲。 屬河間好古,遺籍充庭,乃約《詩頌》而制樂章,體《周官》而為舞節。 自茲相襲,代易其辭,雖流管磬之音,恐異《莖》、《英》之旨。 其後臥聽桑、濮,雜以《兜離》,孤竹、空桑,無復旋宮之義; 崇牙樹羽,惟陳備物之儀。 煩手即多,知音蓋寡。 自永嘉之後,咸、洛為墟,禮壞樂崩,典章殆盡。 江左掇其遺散,尚有治世之音。 而元魏、宇文,代雄朔漠,地不傳于清樂,人各習其舊風。 雖得兩京工胥,亦置四廂金奏。 殊非入耳之玩,空有作樂之名。 隋文帝家世士人,銳興禮樂,踐祚之始,詔太常卿牛弘、祭酒辛彥之增修雅樂。 弘集伶官,措思曆載無成,而郊廟侑神,黃鐘一調而已。 平陳,始獲江左舊工及四懸樂器,帝令廷奏之,歎曰:「此華夏正聲也,非吾此舉,世何得聞。」 乃調五音為五夏、二舞、登歌、房中等十四調,賓、祭用之。 隋氏始有雅樂,因置清商署以掌之。 既而協律郎祖孝孫依京房舊法,推五音十二律為六十音,又六之,有三百六十音,旋相為宮,因定廟樂。 諸儒論難,竟不施用。 隋世雅音,惟清樂十四調而已。 隋末大亂,其樂猶全。
Under the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors every age kept its music officers—so Shun's court revived the shield-and-feather dance, and the Zhou made plucked strings and choral learning a pillar of rule. Once the ancient order failed and the Warring States threw up their dust, rites and music belonged to whichever lord held power, and the Ya and Song odes were traded down into vulgar hands. Qi's se and Yan's zhu—nothing left of clear, disciplined tone; eastern pot-drums and western lutes, each scoring out the shapes of lewd delight. It went so far that the war drum crossed into Han while Master Zhi let his strings fall silent. Yanling Zi was mocked for music that smelled of Zheng; Confucius stood up when he heard the Shao and could only sigh. When Qin Shihuang welded the realm into one, he treated every earlier king as beneath notice. The Qin palace rang wall to wall with bells and drums—and every piece was Zheng or Wei; song and dance lined the Han imperial temple—and none of it was the Xian or the Shao. The Ninefold rite and Six Changes survived as choreography; eight rows and four suspended choirs survived as numbers—but the feeling behind them scarcely arrived. All the Music Office handed on was outward shape. Under Han Wudi and Xuandi the throne championed the classics, collected night-recited verse and court poets' fu, sang mornings in the Orchid Hall and played evenings at the Bamboo Palace—then charged the pitch officers to compose the first sacral hymns. Prince Xian of Hejian hoarded old texts until his court overflowed with them; he trimmed the Odes and Hymns into scores and shaped dance sections after the Zhou Offices. Thereafter each dynasty copied the form and swapped the words; pipes and stones still sounded, but the spirit of the Jing and Ying hymns was feared lost. Later courts lolled to Sang of Pu and Doli mixed in; Guzhu and Kongsang pieces no longer obeyed circulating-tonic theory; tall tooth-boards and feather banners were all that was left—mere display of ritual gear. Players multiplied; true listeners grew scarce. After Yongjia the twin capitals turned to rubble; rites broke apart and music with them, and the written canon nearly vanished. The Jiangzuo states salvaged what scattered pieces they could and still kept something like music of a well-governed world. Northern Wei and Yuwen's line ruled the northern steppe; clear court music did not take root there—every household kept its own frontier habit. Even when they recruited artisans from Chang'an and Luoyang, they still staged the four-sided metal ensemble. Nothing in it pleased the ear; the title of court music was all that remained. Sui Wendi rose from a literati house and threw himself into restoring rites and music; on taking the throne he ordered Court Music Director Niu Hong and Libationer Xin Yanzhi to rebuild the elegant repertoire. Niu Hong gathered palace musicians and brooded over the task for years without finishing it; meanwhile suburban and temple rites made do with Yellow Bell alone. After Chen fell they finally gained Jiangzuo veterans and the four-suspended sets; Wendi had them played at court and exclaimed: "This is the true voice of the Central Lands—without my campaign, who alive would have heard it? The passage concluded." He then cast the five tones into fourteen court suites—the five Summers, two dances, ascent hymn, inner-chamber music, and the rest—for guest rites and sacrifices. Only then did the Sui possess a true elegant repertoire and found the Pure Shang Office to guard it. Soon Pitch Officer Zu Xiaosun, using Jing Fang's old arithmetic, stretched five tones and twelve pitches into sixty notes, then sixfold into three hundred sixty, cycling the tonic through the year—and so drafted temple music on paper. Ru scholars quarreled over it until the scheme was shelved. Under the Sui, court elegance meant those fourteen pure-music suites—nothing more. Sui collapsed in chaos, but the scores and instruments survived.
3
高祖受禪,擢祖孝孫為吏部郎中,轉太常少卿,漸見親委。 孝孫由是奏請作樂。 時軍國多務,未遑改創,樂府尚用隋氏舊文。 ,始命孝孫修定雅樂,至六月奏之。 太宗曰:「禮樂之作,蓋聖人緣物設教,以為撙節,治之隆替,豈此之由?」 御史大夫杜淹對曰:「前代興亡,實由於樂。 陳將亡也,為《玉樹後庭花》; 齊將亡也,而為《伴侶曲》。 行路聞之,莫不悲泣,所謂亡國之音也。 以是觀之,蓋樂之由也。」 太宗曰:「不然,夫音聲能感人,自然之道也。 故歡者聞之則悅,憂者聽之則悲,悲歡之情,在於人心,非由樂也。 將亡之政,其民必苦,然苦心所感,故聞之則悲耳,何有樂聲哀怨,能使悅者悲乎? 今《玉樹》、《伴侶》之曲,其聲具存,朕當為公奏之,知公必不悲矣。」 尚書右丞魏徵進曰:「古人稱:『禮云禮云,玉帛云乎哉! 樂云樂云,鐘鼓云乎哉!』 樂在人和,不由音調。」 太宗然之。 孝孫又奏:「陳、梁舊樂,雜用吳、楚之音; 周、齊舊樂,多涉胡戎之伎。 於是斟酌南北,考以古音,作為大唐雅樂。 以十二律各順其月,旋相為宮。 按《禮記》云『大樂與天地同和』,故制十二和之樂,合三十一曲,八十四調。 祭圓丘以黃鐘為宮,方澤以林鐘為宮,宗廟乙太簇為宮。 五郊、朝賀、饗宴,則隨月用律為宮。」 初,隋但用黃鐘一宮,惟扣七鐘,餘五鐘虛懸而不扣。 及孝孫建旋宮之法,皆遍扣鐘,無復虛懸者矣。 祭天神奏《豫和》之樂,地祇奏《順和》,宗廟奏《永和》。 天地、宗廟登歌,俱奏《肅和》。 皇帝臨軒,奏《太和》。 王公出入,奏《舒和》。 皇帝食舉及飲酒,奏《休和》。 皇帝受朝,奏《政和》。 皇太子軒懸出入,奏《承和》。 元日,冬至皇帝禮會登歌,奏《昭和》。 郊廟俎入,奏《雍和》。 皇帝祭享酌酒、讀祝文及飲福、受胙,奏《壽和》。 五郊迎氣,各以月律而奏其音。 又郊廟祭享,奏《化康》、《凱安》之舞。 《周禮》旋宮之義,亡絕已久,時莫能知,一朝復古,自此始也。 及孝孫卒後,協律郎張文收復采《三禮》,言孝孫雖創其端,至於郊禋用樂,事未周備。 詔文收與太常掌禮樂官等更加厘改。 於是依《周禮》,祭昊天上帝以圓鐘為宮,黃鐘為角,太簇為徵,姑洗為羽,奏《豫和》之舞。 若封太山,同用此樂。 若地祇方丘,以函鐘為宮,太簇為角,姑洗為徵,南呂為羽,奏《順和》之舞。 禪梁甫,同用此樂。 祫禘宗廟,以黃鐘為宮,大呂為角,太簇為徵,應鐘為羽,奏《永和》之舞。 五郊、日月星辰及類于上帝,黃鐘為宮,奏《豫和》之曲。 大蠟、大報,以黃鐘、太簇、姑洗、蕤賓、夷則、無射等調奏《豫和》、《順和》、《永和》之曲。 明堂、雩,以黃鐘為宮,奏《豫和》之曲。 神州、社稷、藉田,宜乙太簇為宮,雨師以姑洗為宮,山川以蕤賓為宮,並奏《順和》之曲。 饗先妣,以夷則為宮,奏《永和》之舞。 大饗宴,奏姑洗、蕤賓二調。 皇帝郊廟、食舉,以月律為宮,並奏《休和》之曲。 皇帝郊廟出入,奏《太和》之樂,臨軒出入,奏《舒和》之樂,並以姑洗為宮。 皇帝大射,姑洗為宮,奏《騶虞》之曲。 皇太子奏《狸首》之曲。 皇太子軒懸,姑洗為宮,奏《永和》之曲。 凡奏黃鐘,歌大呂; 奏太簇,歌應鐘; 奏姑洗,歌南呂; 奏蕤賓,歌林鐘; 奏夷則,歌中呂; 奏無射,歌夾鐘。 黃鐘蕤賓為宮,其樂九變; 大呂、林鐘為宮,其樂八變。 太簇、夷則為宮,其樂七變。 夾鐘、南呂為宮,其樂六變。 姑洗、無射為宮,其樂五變。 中呂、應鐘為宮,其樂四變。 天子十二鐘,上公九,侯伯七,子男五,卿六,大夫四,士三。 及成,奏之。 太宗稱善,於是加級頒賜各有差。
When Tang Gaozu took the throne he raised Zu Xiaosun to a post in the Ministry of Personnel, then made him Vice Director of Court Music and steadily leaned on him. Zu Xiaosun seized the moment and asked leave to compose new state music. Armies and administration consumed the court; reform waited, and the Music Office still performed from Sui books. In Wude 9 he finally charged Zu Xiaosun to overhaul the elegant repertoire; by the sixth month of Zhenguan 2 it was ready for the throne. Taizong said: "Rites and music exist because sages read the world and taught through it—to brace conduct. Whether a reign flourishes or fails, can bells and hymns really be the cause? The passage concluded." Censor-in-Chief Du Yan answered: "Former dynasties rose and fell through music—that much is plain. Chen on the brink composed Jade Tree in the Rear Court; Qi on the brink composed the Companion Song. Wayfarers who heard them wept in the street—the so-called music of a dying kingdom. Seen that way, music is the lever of fate. Taizong said: "No. Sound moves the heart—that is nature. The glad listener brightens; the grieving listener breaks—the feeling lives in the listener, not in the tune. A state about to fall breeds a bitter people; bitterness answers to the ear, and the tune sounds sad. What plaint in the score could force a happy man to weep? Jade Tree and Companion still survive intact. I will play them for you—and you will not weep. The passage concluded." Secretariat Vice Director Wei Zheng stepped forward: "The ancients said, 'Rites, rites—are we talking about jade and silk? Music, music—are we talking about bells and drums?' Music is the harmony among people, not the scale. The passage concluded." Taizong agreed. The emperor took his point. Zu Xiaosun memorialized again: "Chen and Liang scores still carry Wu and Chu color; Zhou and Qi scores lean on northern and frontier pieces. He weighed north against south, tested both against ancient pitch, and forged the Great Tang elegant repertoire. Twelve pitches aligned to the months; the tonic cycled through the year. The Record of Rites says great music shares heaven and earth's harmony—so he built twelve harmonic suites: thirty-one pieces, eighty-four modes. Round Mound rites took Yellow Bell as tonic; Square Mound rites Forest Bell; ancestral temples Great Cluster. For the five suburban altars, court audiences, and banquets, the month's pitch ruled the tonic. The passage concluded." Earlier Sui had used Yellow Bell alone, striking seven bells while five hung mute on the rack. Once Zu Xiaosun restored circulating-tonic practice, every bell on the rack sounded; none was left idle. Heaven rites used Yuhe; earth rites Shunhe; ancestral temples Yonghe. Ascent hymns at heaven, earth, and temple alike used Suhe. When the emperor took the throne hall, Taihe sounded. Princes and dukes entering or leaving heard Shuhe. Imperial meals and toasts used Xiuhe. Imperial audiences used Zhenghe. The crown prince's full bell-set processions used Chenghe. New Year and winter-solstice state rites sang Zhaohe at the ascent hymn. When offering trays entered at suburban or temple rites, Yonghe. Pouring the libation, reading the prayer, drinking the blessing cup, receiving the sacrificial meat—Shouhe accompanied each. The five suburban qi-welcoming rites each took the month's pitch for its tone. Suburban and temple sacrifices also danced Huakang and Kaian. Zhou ritual's circulating tonic had been dead for ages; no one alive understood it until one morning brought it back—here was the start. After Zu Xiaosun's death, Pitch Officer Zhang Wenshou mined the Three Rites and argued that Xiaosun had only opened the work—suburban and border-sacrifice music still needed finishing. The throne ordered Zhang Wenshou and the Court Music ritual officers to revise the system together. Following the Zhou Offices: August Heaven took round bell as tonic, Yellow Bell as second, Great Cluster as third, Guxian as fifth, with the Yuhe dance. Mount Tai enfeoffment used the same score. Earth at the Square Mound: sealed bell tonic, Great Cluster second, Guxian third, Southern Lu fifth, Shunhe dance. Solemn rites at Liangfu shared the same score. Collective ancestral rites: Yellow Bell tonic, Great Lu second, Great Cluster third, Ying Bell fifth, Yonghe dance. Five suburban altars, sun, moon, stars, and spirits classed with Heaven: Yellow Bell tonic, Yuhe suite. Great La and Great Report rites cycled Yellow Bell, Great Cluster, Guxian, Flabby Guest, Yi Ze, and Wushe through Yuhe, Shunhe, and Yonghe. Bright Hall and rain-prayer rites: Yellow Bell tonic, Yuhe suite. Central Land, soil-and-grain altars, and plowing rites took Great Cluster; Rain Master Guxian; mountains and rivers Flabby Guest—all with Shunhe. Feasts for the deceased empress dowager: Yi Ze tonic, Yonghe dance. Grand banquets used Guxian and Flabby Guest modes. Imperial ritual meals at suburban or temple rites took the month's pitch and played Xiuhe. Imperial processions at suburban temples used Taihe; throne-hall processions Shuhe—both with Guxian as tonic. Imperial great archery: Guxian tonic, Zouyu suite. The crown prince's archery used Lishou. The crown prince's full bell procession: Guxian tonic, Yonghe suite. Strike Yellow Bell, sing Great Lu; strike Great Cluster, sing Ying Bell; strike Guxian, sing Southern Lu; strike Flabby Guest, sing Forest Bell; strike Yi Ze, sing Middle Lu; strike Wushe, sing Pinched Bell. With Huangzhong and Ruibin as the palace-tonic, the music has nine variations; With Dalü and Linzhong as the palace-tonic, the music has eight variations. With Taizu and Yize as the palace-tonic, the music has seven variations. With Jiazhong and Nanlü as the palace-tonic, the music has six variations. With Guqian and Wushe as the palace-tonic, the music has five variations. With Zhonglü and Yingzhong as the palace-tonic, the music has four variations. The Son of Heaven had twelve bells; upper dukes nine, marquises and earls seven, viscounts and barons five, ministers six, grand masters four, and knights three. When the work was finished, it was performed. The Founding Ancestor praised it; ranks were then raised and gifts distributed according to merit.
4
十四年,敕曰:「殷薦祖考,以崇功德,比雖加以誠潔,而廟樂未稱。 宜令所司詳諸故實,制定奏聞。」 八座議曰:「七廟觀德,義冠于宗祀; 三祖在天,式章于嚴配。 致敬之情允洽,大孝之道宜宣。 是以八佾具陳,肅儀形於綴兆; 四懸備展,被鴻徽於雅音。 考作樂之明義,擇皇王之令典,前聖所履,莫大於茲。 伏惟皇帝陛下,天縱感通,率由冥極。 孝理昭懿,光被於八埏; 愛敬純深,追崇于百葉。 永言錫祚,斯弘頌聲。 鐘律革音,播鏗鏘於饗薦; 羽籥成列,申蹈厲於烝嘗。 爰詔典司,乃加隆稱,循聲核實,敬闡尊名。 竊以皇靈滋慶,浚源長委,邁吞燕之生商,軼擾龍之肇漢,盛韜光於九二,漸發跡於三分。 高祖縮地補天,重張區宇,反魂肉骨,再造生靈。 恢恢帝圖,與二儀而合大; 赫赫皇道,共七曜以齊明。 雖復聖跡神功,不可得而窺測; 經文緯武,敢有寄于名言。 敬備樂章,式昭彝範。 皇祖弘農府君、宣簡公、懿王三廟樂,請同奏《長發》之舞。 太祖景皇帝廟樂,請奏《大基》之舞。 世祖元皇帝廟樂,請奏《大成》之舞。 高祖大武皇帝廟樂,請奏《大明》之舞。 文德皇后廟樂,請奏《光大》之舞。 七廟登歌,請每室別奏。」 制可之。 二十三年,太尉長孫無忌、侍中于志寧議太宗廟樂曰:「《易》曰:『先王作樂崇德,殷薦之上帝,以配祖考。』 請樂名《崇德》之舞。」 制可之。 後文德皇后廟,有司據禮停《光大》之舞,惟進《崇德》之舞。
In the fourteenth year an edict said: "Yin offered to ancestors and fathers to exalt merit and virtue; though we have lately added sincerity and purity, the temple music is still unfitting. Let the responsible offices examine former precedents in detail, fix regulations, and submit a memorial for approval. The Eight Seats deliberated: "The seven temples display virtue; their meaning crowns ancestral sacrifice; the three ancestors in Heaven display it in solemn pairing. Reverence is fully harmonized; the way of great filial piety should be proclaimed. Therefore the eight rows are fully arrayed, and solemn rites take form in the dance positions; the four suspensions are fully deployed, spreading the great emblem through elegant tones. To examine the bright meaning of making music and select the august kings' proper canons—among what former sages practiced, nothing is greater. We bow before Your Majesty, Heaven-endowed with sympathetic penetration, following the dark ultimate. Filial governance is manifest and brilliant, shining across the realm; love and reverence pure and deep, pursuing honor for a hundred generations. Everlasting words bestow blessing; thereby praise is magnified. Bell-tones change their notes, spreading clangor at offerings; feather-flutes form their ranks, displaying vigorous tread at seasonal and ancestral sacrifices. Edicts then went to the canonical offices and elevated titles were added; following the sound and verifying the substance, we respectfully clarify honored names. We venture that the imperial numen increases blessing; the deep source long pours forth, surpassing Yan's swallowing of Shang and exceeding the dragon-disturbing founding of Han, storing brilliance in concealment and gradually issuing forth at the three divisions. The High Ancestor drew in earth and patched heaven, again spreading the realm's bounds, returning souls to flesh and bone, again creating the living. Vast is the imperial design, joining heaven and earth in greatness; splendid is the imperial way, matching the seven luminaries in brightness. Though sage traces and divine achievements cannot be fathomed; the warp of culture and woof of arms—we dare set them down in famous words. We respectfully prepare music sections to display the constant pattern. For the temples of Imperial Grandfather Hongnong, Duke Xuanjian, and Illustrious King, the music should jointly perform the dance Changfa. For the Founding Ancestor Emperor Jing's temple music, please perform the dance Daji. For the World Ancestor Emperor Yuan's temple music, please perform the dance Dacheng. For the High Ancestor Great Martial Emperor's temple music, please perform the dance Daming. For the Cultured Virtue Empress's temple music, please perform the dance Guangda. For the seven temples' ascent hymns, please perform a separate piece in each chamber. The throne approved. In the twenty-third year Grand Mentor Zhangsun Wuji and Palace Attendant Yu Zhining deliberated on the Founding Ancestor's temple music: "The Changes says, 'Former kings made music to exalt virtue; Yin offered to the Supreme Lord to pair with ancestors and fathers. We request the music be named the dance Chongde. The throne approved. Later, at the Cultured Virtue Empress's temple, the offices by ritual stopped the dance Guangda and advanced only the dance Chongde.
5
九月,高宗廟樂,以《鈞天》為名。 中宗廟樂,奏《太和》之舞。 十月敕,睿宗廟奏《景雲》之舞。 二十九年六月,太常奏:「准十二年東封太山日所定雅樂,其樂曰《元和》六變,以降天神。 《順和》八變,以降地祇。 皇帝行,用《太和》之樂。 其封太山也,登歌、奠玉幣,用《肅和》之樂; 迎俎,用《雍和》之樂; 酌獻、飲福,用《壽和》之樂; 送文、迎武,用《舒和》之樂; 亞獻、終獻,用《凱安》之樂; 送神,用夾鐘宮《元和》之樂。 神社首也,送神用林鐘宮《順和》之樂。 享太廟也,迎神用《永和》之樂; 獻祖宣皇帝酌獻用《光大》之舞,懿祖光皇帝酌獻用《長發》之舞,太祖景皇帝酌獻用《大政》之舞,世祖元皇帝酌獻用《大成》之舞,高祖神堯皇帝酌獻用《大明》之舞,太宗文皇帝酌獻用《崇德》之舞,高宗天皇大帝酌獻用《鈞天》之舞,中宗孝和皇帝酌獻用《太和》之舞,睿宗大聖貞皇帝酌獻用《景雲》之舞; 徹豆,用《雍和》之舞; 送神,用黃鐘宮《永和》之樂。 臣以樂章殘缺,積有歲時。 自有事東巡,親謁九廟,聖情慎禮,精祈感通,皆祠前累日考定音律,請編入史冊,萬代施行。」 下制曰:「王公卿士,爰及有司,頻詣闕上言,請以『唐樂』為名者,斯至公之事,朕安得而辭焉。 然則《大咸》、《大韶》、《大濩》、《大夏》,皆以大字表其樂章,今之所定,宜曰《大唐樂》。」 皇祖弘農府君至高祖大武皇帝六廟,貞觀中已詔顏師古等定樂章舞號。 洎今太常寺又奏有司所定獻祖宣皇帝至睿宗聖貞皇帝九廟酌獻用舞之號。
In the ninth month the High Ancestor's temple music took Juntian as its name. The Middle Ancestor's temple music performed the dance Taihe. A tenth-month edict ordered the Sagacious Ancestor's temple to perform the dance Jingyun. In the sixth month of the twenty-ninth year the Court of Imperial Sacrifices memorialized: "According to the elegant music fixed on the day of the eastern feng at Mount Tai in the twelfth year, Yuanhe has six changes to bring down the Heavenly Spirit. Shunhe has eight changes to bring down the Earth Spirits. When the emperor processed, use Taihe. At the feng of Mount Tai, for the ascent hymn and offering of jade disks, use Suhe; to welcome the offering stands, use Yonghe; for libation offering and drinking the blessing, use Shouhe; to send off the civil and welcome the martial, use Shuhe; for the second and final libations, use Kai'an; to send off the spirits, use Jiazhong-palace Yuanhe. The spirit shrine is foremost; to send off the spirits use Linzhong-palace Shunhe. At offerings in the Grand Temple, to welcome the spirits use Yonghe; for libation to Offering Ancestor Emperor Xuan perform Guangda, to Illustrious Ancestor Emperor Guang perform Changfa, to Founding Ancestor Emperor Jing perform Dazheng, to World Ancestor Emperor Yuan perform Dacheng, to High Ancestor Emperor Shenyao perform Daming, to Founding Ancestor Emperor Wen perform Chongde, to High Ancestor Emperor Tianhuang perform Juntian, to Middle Ancestor Emperor Xiaohe perform Taihe, to Sagacious Ancestor Emperor Dasheng Zhen perform Jingyun; to remove the beans, perform Yonghe; to send off the spirits, use Huangzhong-palace Yonghe. We consider that the music sections are incomplete and have lacked repair for years. Since the eastern tour and personal audience at the nine temples, the emperor was careful in ritual and refined prayer sensed communion—several days before each sacrifice examining and fixing pitch and tones; we request they be compiled into the historical records for practice in ten thousand generations. The issued ordinance said: "Princes, dukes, ministers, and scholars, down to the responsible offices, have repeatedly come to the gate and memorialized, requesting that 'Tang music' be the name—this is a matter of utmost impartiality; how could We decline? Yet Daxian, Dashao, Dahu, and Daxia all used the character da to mark their music sections; what is now fixed should be called Great Tang Music. From Imperial Grandfather Hongnong through the High Ancestor Great Martial Emperor's six temples—in Zhenguan an edict had already ordered Yan Shigu and others to fix music sections and dance names. By now the Court of Imperial Sacrifices again reported the offices' fixing of libation dances from Offering Ancestor Emperor Xuan through the Sagacious Ancestor Emperor Zhen's nine temples.
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四月,命有司定玄元皇帝廟告享所奏樂,降神用《混成》之樂,送神用《太一》之樂。 六月,有司奏:「玄宗廟樂請奏《廣運》之舞,肅宗廟樂請奏《惟新》之舞。」 ,代宗廟樂請奏《保大》之舞。 十月,德宗廟樂請奏《文明》之舞。 ,順宗廟樂請奏《大順》之舞。 ,憲宗廟樂請奏《象德》之舞。 穆宗廟樂請奏《和寧》之舞。 敬宗廟樂請奏《大鈞》之舞。 文宗廟樂請奏《文成》之舞。 武宗廟樂請奏《大定》之舞。
In the fourth month the offices were ordered to fix the music at report-offerings in the temple of the Primordial Origin Emperor; to bring down the spirit use Huncheng, to send off the spirit use Taiyi. In the sixth month the offices memorialized: "For the Mystical Ancestor's temple music please perform Guangyun; for the Solemn Ancestor's temple music please perform Weixin. For the Generation Ancestor's temple music please perform Baoda. In the tenth month, for the Virtuous Ancestor's temple music please perform Wenming. For the Compliance Ancestor's temple music please perform Dashun. For the Accomplished Ancestor's temple music please perform Xiangde. For Emperor Muzong's temple music please perform Hening. For the Respectful Ancestor's temple music please perform Dajun. For the Cultured Ancestor's temple music please perform Wencheng. For the Martial Ancestor's temple music please perform Dading.
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,宴群臣,始奏秦王破陣之曲。 太宗謂侍臣曰:「朕昔在籓,屢有征討,世間遂有此樂,豈意今日登于雅樂。 然其發揚蹈厲,雖異文容,功業由之,致有今日,所以被于樂章,示不忘於本也。」 尚書右僕射封德彝進曰:「陛下以聖武戡難,立極安人,功成化定,陳樂象德,實弘濟之盛烈,為將來之壯觀。 文容習儀,豈得為比。」 太宗曰:「朕雖以武功定天下,終當以文德綏海內。 文武之道,各隨其時,公謂文容不如蹈厲,斯為過矣。」 德彝頓首曰:「臣不敏,不足以知之。」 其後令魏徵、虞世南、褚亮、李百藥改制歌辭,更名《七德》之舞,增舞者至百二十人,被甲執戟,以象戰陣之法焉。 六年,太宗行幸慶善宮,宴從臣于渭水之濱,賦詩十韻。 其宮即太宗降誕之所。 車駕臨幸,每特感慶,賞賜閭裏,有同漢之宛、沛焉。 於是起居郎呂才以禦制詩等於樂府,被之管弦,名為《功成慶善樂》之曲,令童兒八佾,皆進德冠、紫袴褶,為《九功》之舞。 冬至享宴,及國有大慶,與《七德》之舞皆奏於庭。 七年,太宗制《破陣舞圖》:左圓右方,先偏後伍,魚麗鵝貫,箕張翼舒,交錯屈伸,首尾回互,以象戰陣之形。 令呂才依圖教樂工百二十人,被甲執戟而習之。 凡為三變,每變為四陣,有來往疾徐擊刺之象,以應歌節,數日而就,更名《七德》之舞。 癸巳,奏《七德》、《九功》之舞,觀者見其抑揚蹈厲,莫不扼腕踴躍,凜然震竦。 武臣列將咸上壽云:「此舞皆是陛下百戰百勝之形容。」 群臣咸稱萬歲。 蠻夷十餘種自請率舞,詔許之,久而乃罷。 十四年,有景雲見,河水清。 張文收采古《朱雁》、《天馬》之義,製《景雲河清歌》,名曰宴樂,奏之管弦,為諸樂之首,元會第一奏者是也。
At a banquet for the assembled ministers they first performed the tune Prince of Qin Breaking the Battle Array. Taizong told the attending ministers: "When I was in the fief I repeatedly campaigned; the world thereby got this music—who would have thought it would today ascend to elegant music! Yet its display of vigor and tread, though unlike cultured bearing, achievement came by it to reach today; therefore it is clothed in music sections—to show we do not forget our root. Right Vice Director Feng Deyi advanced: "Your Majesty with sage martial quelled difficulty, established the pole and settled the people; achievement complete and transformation fixed, displaying music to image virtue—truly a magnificent achievement of succoring the age, a grand sight for generations to come. Cultured bearing and practiced ritual—how could they be compared! Taizong said: "Though I settled the realm by martial achievement, in the end I shall soothe the seas within by cultured virtue. The ways of civil and martial each follow their time; you say cultured bearing is not equal to vigorous tread—that goes too far. Deyi bowed his head: "Your servant is not acute and is insufficient to know this." Thereafter he ordered Wei Zheng, Yu Shinan, Chu Liang, and Li Baiyao to revise the song texts, renaming it the dance Qide, increasing dancers to one hundred twenty, donning armor and grasping halberds to image battle-array methods. In the sixth year Taizong went in person to Qingshan Palace and banqueted his ministers on the Wei River's bank, composing a poem in ten rhymes. That palace was Taizong's birthplace. Whenever the imperial carriage visited he was especially moved with celebration, bestowing gifts on the hamlet—like Han's Wan and Pei. Thereupon Attendant for Drafting Lü Cai set the imperial poems to the Music Bureau, clothed them in strings and pipes, naming the tune Achievement Complete, Qingshan Celebration, ordering eight rows of children all wearing jinde caps and purple trousers and jackets, performing the dance Jiugong. At the winter solstice feast and when the state had great celebration, together with the dance Qide they were all performed in the court. In the seventh year Taizong devised the Battle-Array Dance Diagram: left round, right square, first echelon then five-deep, fish-scale and goose-file, winnow-spread and wing-unfold, interlaced bending and stretching, head and tail turning back upon each other—to image the battle array's form. He ordered Lü Cai to teach one hundred twenty music workers from the diagram, donning armor and grasping halberds to practice it. In all there were three changes; each change was four arrays, with coming and going, fast and slow, striking and thrusting images to match the song's beats—in several days it was done, and the name was changed to the dance Qide. On day guisi they performed the dances Qide and Jiugong; viewers seeing their restraint and vigorous tread all clutched their wrists and leapt, awestruck and trembling. Martial ministers and arrayed generals all raised cups for longevity, saying: "This dance is entirely Your Majesty's likeness in a hundred battles and a hundred victories. The assembled ministers all shouted "Long live the emperor!" More than ten southern peoples themselves requested to lead the dance; an edict permitted it, and only after a long while did it stop. In the fourteenth year an auspicious cloud appeared and the Yellow River cleared. Zhang Wenshou gathered the ancient meaning of Vermilion Goose and Heavenly Horse, composing the Jingyun River Clear Song, naming it banquet music; performed on strings and pipes, it was first among all music—the first performed at the great assembly was this.
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十一月,高宗親祀南郊,黃門侍郎宇文節奏言:「依儀,明日朝群臣,除樂懸,請奏《九部樂》。」 上因曰:「《破陣樂舞》者,情不忍觀,所司更不宜設。」 言畢,慘愴久之。 正月,改《破陣樂舞》為《神功破陣樂》。 二年,太常奏《白雪》琴曲。 先是,上以琴中雅曲,古人歌之,近代已來,此聲頓絕,雖有傳習,又失宮商,令所司簡樂工解琴笙者修習舊曲。 至是太常上言曰:「臣謹按《禮記》、《家語》云:舜彈五弦之琴,歌《南風》之詩。 是知琴操曲弄,皆合於歌。 又張華《博物志》云:『《白雪》是大帝使素女鼓五十弦瑟曲名。』 又楚大夫宋玉對襄王云:『有客於郢中歌《陽春白雪》,國中和者數十人。』 是知《白雪》琴曲,本宜合歌,以其調高,人和遂寡。 自宋玉以後,迄今千祀,未有能歌《白雪曲》者。 臣今准敕,依於琴中舊曲,定其宮商,然後教習,併合於歌。 輒以御製《雪詩》為《白雪》歌辭。 又按古今樂府,奏正曲之後,皆別有送聲,君唱臣和,事彰前史。 輒取侍臣等奉和雪詩以為送聲,各十六節,今悉教訖,並皆諧韻。」 上善之,乃付太常編於樂府。 六年二月,太常丞呂才造琴歌《白雪》等曲,上製歌辭十六首,編入樂府。 六年三月,上欲伐遼,于屯營教舞,召李義府、任雅相、許敬宗、許圉師、張延師、蘇定方、阿史那忠、于闐王伏闍、上官儀等,赴洛城門觀樂。 樂名《一戎大定樂》。 賜觀樂者雜彩有差。 十月,制曰:「國家平定天下,革命創制,紀功旌德,久被樂章。 今郊祀四懸,猶用干戚之舞,先朝作樂,韜而未伸。 其郊廟享宴等所奏宮懸,文舞宜用《功成慶善》之樂,皆著履執拂,依舊服袴褶、童子冠。 其武舞宜用《神功破陣》之樂,皆被甲持戟,其執纛之人,亦著金甲。 人數並依八佾,仍量加簫、笛、歌鼓等,並于懸南列坐,若舞即與宮懸合奏。 其宴樂內二色舞者,仍依舊別設。」 十一月敕:「供祠祭《上元舞》,前令大祠享皆將陳設。 自今已後,圓丘方澤,大廟祠享,然後用此舞,餘祭並停。」
In the eleventh month the High Ancestor personally sacrificed at the southern suburb; Yellow Gate Vice Director Yu Wenjie memorialized: "According to the ritual, tomorrow at audience with the assembled ministers, removing the music suspension, please perform the Nine Department Music. The emperor thereupon said: "As for the Breaking the Array dance—emotionally I cannot bear to watch it; the offices should furthermore not set it up." When he finished, he grieved a long while. First month: Breaking-the-Array dance renamed Divine Merit in Breaking the Array. Second year: the Court presented the zither piece White Snow. Earlier the emperor, knowing ancient elegant zither pieces were sung but the practice had died out and surviving versions had wrong pitches, ordered skilled zither and mouth-organ workers to restore the old repertoire. The Court then memorialized: "Per the Book of Rites and Household Sayings, Shun played the five-string zither and sang the Ode to the Southern Breeze. Thus zither pieces and melodies were all meant to be sung. Zhang Hua's Comprehensive Record also says: "White Snow was a fifty-string se piece the Plain Girl played for the Supreme Emperor. Song Yu told King Xiang: "A guest in Ying sang Sunny Spring and White Snow; only a few dozen could harmonize." So White Snow was meant to be sung; its mode was so high that few could join in. Since Song Yu, a thousand years have passed with no one able to sing White Snow. Pursuant to the edict I fixed the modes of the old zither pieces, taught them, and set them to song. I used the imperial Snow Poems as White Snow's lyrics. Ancient and modern Music Bureau pieces also had sending-off vocals after the main tune—lord sings, ministers answer—as earlier histories show. I took the ministers' responsive snow poems as sending-off vocals, sixteen stanzas each; all are taught and rhyme correctly. The emperor approved and had the Court enter them in the Music Bureau. Sixth year, second month: Lü Cai composed zither songs including White Snow; the emperor wrote sixteen lyrics, entered in the Music Bureau. Sixth year, third month: planning the Liaodong campaign, he taught dance at camp and summoned Li Yifu, Ren Yaxiang, Xu Jingzong, Xu Yuanshi, Zhang Yanshi, Su Dingfang, Ashina Zhong, the King of Khotan Fuzhe, Shangguan Yi, and others to Luoyang Gate to watch. The piece was One Campaign, Great Settlement. Viewers received brocade silks of varying grades. Tenth month, edict: "Having pacified the realm and remade institutions, recording merit in music is long established. Yet suburban sacrifice still uses shield-and-axe dance on the four suspensions; prior courts' music lies stored and unperformed. Palace suspended civil dance at suburban and temple rites and banquets should use Merit Achieved, Celebration of Goodness—shoes, fly-whisks, former trousers-and-jacket dress and youths' caps. Military dance should use Divine Merit in Breaking the Array—armor and halberds; banner bearers also wear gilded armor. Numbers as in eight rows; add pipes, flutes, and song-drums south of the suspension; when they dance they join the palace suspended orchestra. Banquet two-color dancers remain separately arranged as before. Eleventh month edict: "The Shangyuan dance for sacrifices was formerly set for all major shrine offerings. Hereafter use it only at Round Mound, Square Mound, and Grand Temple offerings; stop it at other sacrifices. End of edict.
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十一月六日,太常少卿韋萬石奏曰:「據《貞觀禮》,郊享日文舞奏《豫和》、《順和》、《永和》等樂,其舞人著委貌冠服,並手執籥翟。 其武舞奏《凱安》,其舞人並著平冕,手執干戚。 奉十月敕,文舞改用《功成慶善樂》,武舞改用《神功破陣樂》,並改器服等。 自奉敕以來,為《慶善樂》不可降神,《神功破陣樂》未入雅樂,雖改用器服,其舞猶依舊,迄今不改。 事既不安,恐須別有處分者。」 以今月六日錄奏,奉敕:「舊文舞、武舞既不可廢,並器服總宜依舊。 若懸作《上元舞》日,仍奏《神功破陣樂》及《功成慶善樂》,並殿庭用舞,並須引出懸外作。 其安置舞曲,宜更商量作安穩法。 並錄《凱安》六變法象奏聞。」 萬石又與刊正官等奏曰:
Eleventh month, sixth day: Vice Director Wei Wanshi memorialized: "Per Zhenguan rites, suburban civil dance uses Joyful Harmony, Smooth Harmony, Eternal Harmony; dancers wear weimao caps and robes with yue flutes and pheasant feathers. Military dance uses Triumphant Peace; dancers wear pingmian caps with shields and axes. Per the tenth-month edict, civil dance becomes Merit Achieved, Celebration of Goodness and military dance Divine Merit in Breaking the Array, with changed implements and dress. Since the edict, Celebration of Goodness cannot summon spirits and Divine Merit in Breaking the Array is not yet elegant music; though dress changed, the dances remain old and unaltered. The matter is unsettled; separate disposition may be needed. Recorded sixth of this month; edict: "Former civil and military dances cannot be abolished; implements and dress should follow the old way. When the Shangyuan dance is suspended, still perform Divine Merit in Breaking the Array and Merit Achieved, Celebration of Goodness; court dances must be performed outside the suspension. Dance placement should be reconsidered for a stable arrangement. Also record Triumphant Peace's six changes and their symbolism and report. Wanshi again submitted with the collation officials:
10
從之。
Assent was given.
11
三年七月,上在九成宮咸亨殿宴集,有韓王元嘉、霍王元軌及南北軍將軍等。 樂作,太常少卿韋萬石奏稱:「《破陣樂舞》者,是皇祚發跡所由,宣揚宗祖盛烈,傳之於後,永永無窮。 自天皇臨馭四海,寢而不作,既緣聖情感愴,群下無敢關言。 臣忝職樂司,廢缺是懼。 依禮,祭之日,天子親總干戚以舞先祖之樂,與天下同樂之也,今《破陣樂》久廢,群下無所稱述,將何以發孝思之情?」 上矍然改容,俯遂所請,有制令奏樂舞。 既畢,上欷歔感咽,涕泗交流,臣下悲淚,莫能仰視。 久之,顧謂兩王曰:「不見此樂,垂三十年,乍此觀聽,實深哀感。 追思往日,王業艱難勤苦若此,朕今嗣守洪業,可忘武功? 古人云:『富貴不與驕奢期,驕奢自至。』 朕謂時見此舞,以自誡勖,冀無盈滿之過,非為歡樂奏陳之耳。」 侍宴群臣咸呼萬歲。
Third year, seventh month: the emperor feasted at Jiucheng Palace, Xianheng Hall, with Han Prince Yuanjia, Huo Prince Yuan gui, and northern and southern army generals. As music began, Wei Wanshi memorialized: "Breaking-the-Array is where imperial fortune began; it proclaims ancestral glory to endless posterity. Since the August Sovereign ruled the four seas it has lain dormant; the sage's grief was such that none below dared speak. Your servant in the Music Office fears neglect. By rite the Son of Heaven on sacrifice day leads shield and axe to dance ancestral music and share joy with the realm; Breaking the Array is long abandoned—how can filial feeling be stirred? The emperor started, changed expression, granted the request, and ordered the dance. When it ended the emperor sighed, tears streaming; ministers wept and could not look up. After long silence he told the two princes: "Nearly thirty years without this dance; seeing it today stirs deep grief. Recalling the past, the royal enterprise was toilsome like this; I now guard the great enterprise—can I forget martial achievement? The ancients said: "Wealth and nobility do not fix a date with pride and extravagance—pride and extravagance come of themselves." I wish to see this dance now and then to admonish myself and avoid excess—not for mere pleasure. Attending ministers shouted long life.
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正月二十一日,則天御洛城南樓賜宴,太常奏《六合還淳》之舞。 正月,則天親享萬象神宮。 先是,上自製《神宮大樂》,舞用九百人,至是舞於神宮之庭。 ,皇后上言:「自妃主及五品以上母妻,並不因夫子封者,請自今遷葬之日,特給鼓吹。 宮官亦准此。」 侍御史唐紹上諫曰:「竊聞鼓吹之作,本為軍容,昔黃帝涿鹿有功,以為警衛。 故鼓曲有《靈夔吼》、《雕鶚爭》、《石墜崖》、《壯士怒》之類。 自昔功臣備禮,適得用之。 丈夫有四方之功,所以恩加寵錫。 假如郊祀天地,誠是重儀,惟有宮懸,本無案架。 故知軍樂所備,尚不洽於神祇; 鉦鼓之音,豈得接於閨閫。 准式,公主王妃已下葬禮,惟有團扇、方扇、彩帷、錦障之色。 加至鼓吹,歷代未聞。 又准令,五品官婚葬,先無鼓吹,惟京官五品,得借四品鼓吹為儀。 令特給五品已上母妻,五品官則不當給限。 便是班秩本因夫子,儀飾乃復過之,事非倫次,難為定制,參詳義理,不可常行。 請停前敕,各依常典。」 上不納。 正月二十三日,製《越古長年樂》一曲。
First month, twenty-first day: Wu Zetian feasted from Luoyang's south tower; the Court performed Six Harmony Returning to Purity. First month: Wu Zetian personally offered at the Temple of Myriad Images. Earlier the emperor had composed Spirit Palace Grand Music for nine hundred dancers; now it was danced in the spirit palace courtyard. The empress memorialized: "Consorts, princesses, and fifth-rank-and-above mothers and wives not ennobled through husband or son should receive drum-and-pipe music from relocation burial onward. Palace women likewise. Attendant censor Tang Shao remonstrated: "Drum-and-pipe music was originally military display; when the Yellow Emperor won at Zhuolu it served as guard music. Drum pieces include Spirit Rhinoceros Roaring, Eagle and Falcon Struggling, Stone Falling from the Cliff, and Valiant's Wrath. Meritorious subjects alone received it by full rite. Men with achievement in the four directions receive favor and reward. Suburban sacrifice to Heaven and Earth is a weighty rite with only palace suspended music—no frame-drum racks. Military music therefore does not suit the spirits; how can bells and drums enter the inner quarters? Regulations for princesses and consorts and below allow only round fans, square fans, colored curtains, and brocade screens at burial. Adding drum-and-pipe is unheard of in any generation. Statute gave fifth-rank weddings and burials no drum-and-pipe; only capital fifth-rank officials might borrow fourth-rank drum-and-pipe. Granting it to fifth-rank mothers and wives gives fifth-rank officials what statute forbids. Rank derives from husband and son yet display exceeds them—illogical and hard to codify; on moral grounds it cannot be routine. Request to halt the prior edict and follow usual statute. The throne declined. First month, twenty-third day: composed Transcending Antiquity, Long Years.
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玄宗在位多年,善音樂,若宴設酺會,即禦勤政樓。 先一日,金吾引駕仗北衙四軍甲士,未明陳仗,衛尉張設,光祿造食。 候明,百僚朝,侍中進中嚴外辦,中官素扇,天子開簾受朝。 禮畢,又素扇垂簾,百僚常參供奉官、貴戚、二王后、諸蕃酋長,謝食就坐。 太常大鼓,藻繪如錦,樂工齊擊,聲震城闕。 太常卿引雅樂,每色數十人,自南魚貫而進,列於樓下。 鼓笛雞婁,充庭考擊。 太常樂立部伎、坐部伎依點鼓舞,間以胡夷之伎。 日旰,即內閑廄引蹀馬三十匹,為《傾杯樂曲》,奮首鼓尾,縱橫應節。 又施三層板床,乘馬而上,抃轉如飛。 又令宮女數百人自帷出擊雷鼓,為《破陣樂》、《太平樂》、《上元樂》。 雖太常積習,皆不如其妙也。 若《聖壽樂》,則回身換衣,作字如畫。 又五坊使引大象入場,或拜或舞,動容鼓振,中於音律,竟日而退。 玄宗又於聽政之暇,教太常樂工子弟三百人為絲竹之戲,音響齊發,有一聲誤,玄宗必覺而正之。 號為皇帝弟子,又云梨園弟子,以置院近于禁苑之梨園。 太常又有別教院,教供奉新曲。 太常每淩晨,鼓笛亂發于太樂署。 別教院廩食常千人,宮中居宜春院。 玄宗又製新曲四十餘,又新製樂譜。 每初年望夜,又禦勤政樓,觀燈作樂,貴臣戚里,借看樓觀望。 夜闌,太常樂府縣散樂畢,即遣宮女于樓前縛架出眺,歌舞以娛之。 若繩戲竿木,詭異巧妙,固無其比。 ,玄宗西幸,祿山遣其逆党載京師樂器樂伎衣盡入洛城。 尋而肅宗克復兩京,將行大體,禮物盡闕。 命禮儀使太常少卿于休烈使屬吏與東京留臺領,赴於朝廷。 詔給錢,使休烈造伎衣及大舞等服,於是樂工二舞始備矣。
Xuanzong reigned many years and was skilled in music; banquets and public revels were held at the Diligence in Governance Tower. The day before, northern palace guard commandants of four armies led armored troops; before dawn they arrayed gear; the Minister of Ceremonies set screens; the Director of Palace Provisions prepared food. At daybreak the hundred officials attended; the secretariat announced inner solemnity and outer readiness; eunuchs with plain fans; the Son of Heaven opened the curtain for homage. When rites ended, plain fans lowered the curtain; regular court, tribute officers, nobles, two kings, and tribal chiefs ate and sat. Court great drums painted like brocade; musicians struck together; sound shook the gate-towers. The Director led elegant music; dozens per tone-color filed in from the south and ranked below the tower. Drums, flutes, gourds, and lutes filled the courtyard. Court standing- and seated-section performers danced by counted beats, interspersed with barbarian and foreign pieces. At sundown the inner stables led thirty pacing horses for Tilting Cup; they tossed heads and drummed tails in rhythm. A three-tier plank bed was set; they mounted and whirled like flight. He also had several hundred palace women emerge from curtains striking thunder-drums in Breaking the Array, Grand Peace, and Shangyuan. Though the Court had long practice, none matched this. In Longevity of Sagehood they turned bodies, changed dress, and formed characters like painting. Five-workshop envoys also led elephants in; some bowed, some danced, movements and drums in pitch—performing all day. In leisure from government he taught three hundred Court musicians' sons silk-and-bamboo; if one note erred when tones rose together, he detected and corrected it. They were styled Imperial Disciples, also Pear Garden disciples, from the academy near the forbidden Pear Garden. The Court also had a separate teaching academy for new tribute pieces. Each dawn Court drums and flutes sounded together at the Grand Music Office. The separate teaching academy rationed a thousand men; musicians dwelled at palace Yichun Courtyard. Xuanzong also composed more than forty new pieces and new scores. Each year on the first full-moon night he again went to the Diligence Tower for lanterns and music; nobles and kin borrowed tower rooms to watch. When night deepened and Court and prefectural scattered music ended, palace women bound frames before the tower for rope acts and pole climbing. Rope games and pole feats—strange and artful—had no equal. When Xuanzong fled west, An Lushan's rebels hauled the capital's instruments and musicians' robes into Luoyang. Soon Suzong recovered the two capitals; for the great rites ritual objects were wholly lacking. He ordered Ritual Commissioner and Court Vice Director Yu Xiulie to send subordinates with the Eastern Capital retained court to the capital. An edict granted money for Xiulie to make performers' robes and great-dance dress; then musicians and the two dances were complete.
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三月十九日,上乙太常舊鐘磬,自隋已來所傳五聲,或有差錯,謂于休烈曰:「古者聖人作樂,以應天地之和,以合陰陽之序。 和則人不夭劄,物不疵癘。 且金石絲竹,樂之器也。 比親享郊廟,每聽樂聲,或宮商不倫,或鐘磬失度。 可盡供鐘磬,朕當於內自定。」 太常進入,上集樂工考試數日,審知差錯,然後令再造及磨刻。 二十五日,一部先畢,召太常樂工,上臨三殿親觀考擊,皆合五音,送太常。 二十八日,又于內造樂章三十一章,送太常,郊廟歌之。 四月,河東節度使馬燧獻《定難曲》。 御麟德殿,命閱試之。 十二年十二月,昭義軍節度使王虔休獻《繼天誕聖樂》。 十四年二月,德宗自製《中和舞》,又奏《九部樂》及禁中歌舞。 伎者十數人,布列在庭,上御麟德殿會百僚觀新樂詩,仍令太子書示百官。 正月,南詔異牟尋作《奉聖樂舞》,因韋皋以進。 十八年正月,驃國王來獻本國樂。
Third month, nineteenth day: the emperor inspected the Court's old bells and chimes; since Sui the five transmitted tones had errors; he told Yu Xiulie: "The sage made music to match heaven-and-earth's harmony and yin-yang's order. In harmony people do not die young and things are not blighted. Metal, stone, silk, and bamboo are the instruments of music. Lately, whenever I attended suburban and temple sacrifices and heard the music, the gong and shang modes were sometimes disordered, or the bells and chimes were out of tune. Supply all the bells and chimes you can; I shall set the tuning myself within the palace. The quote ended. The Grand Minister of Ceremonial presented the instruments; the emperor assembled music workers and tested them for several days, identified the errors, and then ordered them remade and recut. On the twenty-fifth day one set was finished first. He summoned the directorate's music workers, went in person to the Three Halls to watch the trial performances, found that all matched the five tones, and sent the set to the Grand Minister of Ceremonial. On the twenty-eighth day he also composed thirty-one pieces within the palace and sent them to the Grand Minister of Ceremonial to be sung at suburban and temple rites. In the fourth month, Hedong Military Commissioner Ma Sui presented the "Quelling Disturbances" suite. The emperor went to Linde Hall and ordered it performed for review. In the twelfth year, twelfth month, Zhaoyi Military Commissioner Wang Qianxiu presented the "Continuing Heaven's Birthday Sacred Music." In the fourteenth year, second month, Dezong personally composed the "Zhonghe Dance" and also had the Nine Department Music and palace song-dances performed. More than ten performers were arrayed in the courtyard. The emperor went to Linde Hall, gathered the hundred officials to view the new music and poems, and also ordered the Crown Prince to copy them out and display them to the officials. In the first month, Nanzhao's Yi Mouxun composed the "Offering to the Sage Music and Dance" and had Wei Gao present it to the court. In the eighteenth year, first month, the king of Pyu came to present his kingdom's music.
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十月,宣太常寺,准《雲韶樂》舊用人數,令於本寺閱習進來者。 至十月,教成。 三年,武德司奉宣索《雲韶樂縣圖》二軸,進之。
In the tenth month the throne directed the Grand Minister of Ceremonial to follow the old staffing for Yünshao Music and have the newly arrived musicians rehearse at the directorate. By the tenth month the training was finished. In the third year the Wude Office received an imperial order for two scrolls of the Yünshao Music hanging chart and presented them.
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八月,太常禮院奏:
In the eighth month the Grand Minister of Ceremonial Rites Court memorialized: