Rhyme School Pearls

Author: Shen Chengqi (Qing Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-03-01
Features: The singing methods of Kunqu Opera have traditionally been divided into Southern and Northern styles, with rhyme systems being "Northern based on the Zhongyuan Rhyme Dictionary and Southern on the Hongwu Rhyme Dictionary." Due to the strictness of the rhyme rules and the difficulty of true transmission, the standards have gradually declined over the centuries. According to Wang Dehui's Gumu Lu from the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty, the situation was as follows: "The previously followed pronunciation was solely based on the Zhongyuan Rhyme Dictionary. Later, as lyricists strove for excellence in Southern songs, singers began to favor Southern tones. The entering tones remained in the original form, completely deviating from the Zhongyuan sounds, adhering instead to the Hongwu Zhengyun. Those changes that were not fully implemented still retained Northern echoes, while those that went too far even mixed Southern tones into Northern songs, leading to confusion between the two styles." This situation has long existed in the past, and it is even more pronounced today. Now, Kunqu experts seek to restore the proper methods of Kunqu Opera by searching for good copies for teaching purposes. They have republished Shen Yuanbin's Quryun Lize, written during the Qianlong era. This book extensively gathers strengths, carefully selects and combines, embodying both Northern and Southern styles while harmonizing with the five tones (gong, shang, jue, yin, xiao). Since its publication, it has been reprinted several times and has long been sought after but hard to find in the market. Its republication today is indeed a grand effort to rescue the declining art and bestow blessings upon the artistic world.