Taiyin Great Collection

Author: Yuan Junzhe
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2007-01-01
Features: The guqin is one of the earliest stringed instruments in Chinese history and a treasure of traditional Chinese culture. It is cherished by people worldwide for its long history, extensive literature, rich content, and profound influence. Over a hundred guqin scores from the Northern and Southern Dynasties to the Qing Dynasty have been preserved, along with more than three thousand guqin pieces. There is also a vast amount of literature on guqin players, guqin theory, guqin craftsmanship, and guqin techniques, making its legacy one of the richest in Chinese musical instruments. In ancient times, the guqin was often mentioned alongside the qiqi, shu, and hua, used to summarize traditional Chinese culture. Many famous performers emerged throughout the dynasties, becoming historical and cultural figures celebrated through the generations. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, the guqin spread to neighboring countries in East Asia, where it was absorbed and passed down as part of their traditional culture. In modern times, it accompanied the global spread of the Chinese diaspora, becoming a symbol of Eastern culture in the eyes of the West. Ta Yin Da Quan Ji is the earliest specialized collection of guqin theory. Originally published in the eleventh year of the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty. According to recent research, this book was compiled by Tian Zhiweng of the Song Dynasty and was originally titled Ta Gu Yi Yin, consisting of three volumes. During the Xiajing period of the Southern Song Dynasty, Yang Zuyun renamed it Qin Yuan Xun Zhi. In the Zhengtong era of the Ming Dynasty, Yuan Junzhe added annotations to this edition, compiling it into Ta Yin Da Quan Ji. The book comprises five volumes, covering topics such as guqin craftsmanship, performance techniques, notation systems, and music aesthetics. It has been revised and reprinted multiple times, with various versions preserved. Among them, it preserves many long-lost guqin books and scores from the Tang and Song dynasties, such as the fingerplay materials of Zhao Yeli, Chen Jushi, Chen Zhuo from the Tang Dynasty, and Tian Zhiweng, Yang Zuyun from the Song Dynasty.