Who's Shi Kuang? A Brief Introduction to the Life of Shi Kuang, a Famous Musician of Jin State in the Spring and Autumn Period.

Shi Kuang, whose real name is Ye Zi, was born in Huanhu Village, Nanhe County, Hebei Province (translated by Lv Deming as Zhuangzi Pian Mu), a famous musician and Taoist in the Spring and Autumn Period. He was born without eyes, so he called himself a blind minister. As a doctor of Jin, also known as Jin Ye, he is knowledgeable and versatile, especially good at music, playing the piano and discriminating sounds. It was praised as "the wisdom of Shi Kuang" by later generations. Shi Kuang said in "On Yuan Jun Road": "A gentleman's way is pure and inaction, serving humanity, tending to benevolence, broadening eyes and ears, looking at all parties, not indulging in selfish desires, not being bound by the left and right, broad-minded, far-sighted, independent, and repeatedly saving performance appraisal. As a courtier, this person is also a gentleman." His artistic attainments are extremely high, and many bizarre stories about Shi Kuang's music are circulated among the people. Shi Kuang, a teacher in Quting Town, Hongtong County, is blind and often calls himself a "minister" or a "blind minister". There are three theories about why he is blind: the first is that he was born blind; The second is that he covered his eyes with wormwood, because he felt that what he saw made him unable to concentrate on one thing, so he calmed down. The third is that he loved music since he was a child, and he was so talented that he was moved by * * *. When he learned the piano from Gao Yang, a court musician of Wei State, he blinded his eyes with an embroidery needle and studied hard. In the end, shine on you was better than Lan, and his piano skills gradually surpassed that of Master.

In the early years of Duke Daogong, Shi Kuang entered the court as a master of music. With his artistic attainments, rich knowledge and good knitting eloquence, he won the trust of Duke Mourning and Duke Peace. When he mourned for the public or the public, he was too cruel. He is a famous politician, educator and musician. Huai Nan Zi said, "It was a massacre", he "ruled the State of Jin" and the State of Jin "had no chaotic politics".

artistic attainments

Shi Kuang has made great achievements in art and is admired by the world. Zhuangzi's Theory of Everything says that Shi Kuang "knows the melody very well", and Hongtong County Records says: "Shi Kuang is the cleverest in the world." Therefore, in pre-Qin literature, Shi Kuang is often used to represent people who have a particularly keen sense of voice. "For example, the stone bead in Shi Kuang is also the one that moves up and down. It has no dimension, but it is not a alto." He is not only familiar with piano music, but also good at expressing the sound of nature with piano sound and describing the beautiful posture and singing of birds flying. He has excellent hearing and a strong ability to distinguish sounds. In the literature before the Han Dynasty, he was often used as a representative of people with a particularly keen sense of voice. Huai Nan Zi. Xun's General Comment said: "For example, Shi Sezhu also moves up and down, without dimension, but it is not alto." Zhou Shu records that he is not only good at playing the piano, but also plays the harp. Shi Kuang is also familiar with the tunes of north and south folk songs and musical instruments. "Zuo Zhuan" records: "Jin people heard of Teacher Chu and said,' It's harmless! I suddenly sang the north and south winds. The south wind does not dispute, Chu is ineffective! "On one occasion, Shi Kuang heard that the tone of the clock cast by Duke Jinping was inaccurate. He told the truth, but Jin Pinggong disagreed. Later, Guo Wei musician Shi Juan confirmed this, and that's what happened.

At the end of his life, Shi Kuang mastered the temperament of counting stars and wrote 100 Fu Bao. In the music scores of Ming and Qing Dynasties, Yangchun Baixue and Xuan Mo misinterpreted the title of Shi Kuang.

Shi Kuang has extraordinary musical talent, but he is very conservative. Duke Jinping likes new sounds. Once listening to Shi Juan playing a new song, Shi Kuang attacked it on the spot as "the voice of decadence" and "the voice of national subjugation". Shi Kuang believes that virtue can be spread through music.

Political achievements

Shi Kuang's political achievements are no less than his artistic achievements. His political activities were first seen in the literature in the fourteenth year of Duke Xiang of Lu (559 BC). According to the existing pre-Qin documents, Shi Kuang almost participated in a series of internal affairs, diplomacy, military affairs and other affairs of the State of Jin, and often expressed his condolences and publicly planned to run the country. Mourning and Ping Ergong always asked Shi Kuang for advice, but he was able to "say everything because of what he asked", which led to a serious macro-governance theory. Although Shi Kuang was only a musician and lived in the palace all his life, his position was different from that of ordinary musicians. He has his own views on politics and dares to express his views in front of Wei Hou. He also made many demands on the King of Jin. On one occasion, Duke Jinping lamented that Shi Kuang was born blind and suffered from darkness. Shi Kuang said that there are five kinds of darkness in the world. One is that the king does not know that officials pay bribes and the people are wronged. Second, the king improperly employs people; The third is that kings do not distinguish between virtuous and foolish; The fourth is monarchical militarism; Fifth, the king doesn't know the people's plans. Shi Kuang even beat Jin Pinggong with a harp to persuade Jin Pinggong not to indulge in personal pleasure.

When Wei Xiangong was driven away by the people of China because of tyranny, Duke Xiang of Jin thought that the people had gone too far. Shi Kuang retorted: "A good monarch, of course, the people will support him. The tyrannical king made the people despair. Why can't you drive him away? " Duke Jin felt very reasonable and asked the way of governing the country. Shi Kuang simply called it "benevolence".

At that time, Qi was very powerful and asked for advice on politics. Shi Kuang put forward the idea that "a monarch should benefit the people", which showed that Shi Kuang had a strong people-oriented thought, so he was deeply respected by the rulers and people at that time. In the legend of later generations, he was evolved into the god of music, the prototype of clairaudient ears and the founder of blind fortune telling.

Kuang Zhuyu Yumin

During the Spring and Autumn Period, the issue of musical method was highly valued, with a rather mysterious color. While mastering music, masters are often absorbed into the military, predicting good or bad luck and preparing for consultation. Shi Kuang is not idle in playing the piano, and the participation of musicians in politics is one of the reasons. However, among many musicians, Shi Kuang was the only one who was appreciated by the Jin army. It was because of his profound knowledge and outstanding eloquence that he won the trust of Mo Ning and Ping Ergong. Later, he almost participated in the internal affairs, diplomacy and military affairs of the Jin State. As Han Nian said, Shi Kuang's "trace is hidden in Yuefu, but he actually participated in the national discussion".

According to documents, Shi Kuang always mourned and reconciled with these two government officials. Monning and Ping Ergong always ask Shi Kuang for advice, but he can "say everything because of what he asks", which leads to serious macro-governance theory. Shi Kuang's theory of "five kinds of ink in the world" and "the way to govern the people" contains profound political opinions, which shows Shi Kuang's foresight and broad mind as a political activist.

political propaganda

Politically, Shi Kuang advocates political clarity and pays equal attention to morality and law. The monarch is mainly "clean and honest" and "doing things with love", and at the same time, he should use the law to safeguard his rule. "The law is not good, and the officials and the people are not right." In terms of employing people, he advocates entrusting people with both ability and political integrity with the important task of the state. If "loyal ministers are not used, but officials are disloyal, subordinates are high, and they are not filial to sages", it will bury the hidden danger of political chaos. Economically, Shi Kuang advocates that only by enriching the country and strengthening the people can the government be at peace.

"Empty treasury" will lead to a situation of "the poor are trapped and the upper and lower levels are not harmonious". In terms of ruling skills, Shi Kuang advocated "opening eyes and ears to observe people's feelings" so that people can complain about injustice.

He also put forward the positive proposition of "not indulging in customs and not being bound by the left and right". It is believed that the monarch should be "far-sighted and independent" in order to avoid mistakes and make a difference in politics. Shi Kuang's grand theory of governing the country is a reflection of his political ideal, and his views are incisive. Ai, Ping II, Ming Jun, enriching the people, can revive Wen Xiang's hegemony, and Shi Kuang played an important role. Shi Kuang also went to war with Gong Ping many times, and once represented the State of Jin in the Zhou Dynasty. Lu said, "Jin Youwei is a doctor, assisted by Zhao, a counselor, and an uncle and niece as a teacher and protector. Their courtship is all gentlemen, and their mediocrity is remarkable!" Express Shi Kuang can be as famous as famous politicians such as Zhao Meng and Shuxiang.

There are many records about Shi Kuang's "Helping the People" in the pre-Qin literature, which shows that his political achievements are no less than his artistic achievements. Huai Nan Zi said, "It was a massacre", he "ruled the State of Jin" and the State of Jin "had no chaotic politics at the beginning". According to Taizai's position, "the affairs of the six officials are unified", which shows its prominent position. By the end of the Spring and Autumn Period, Taizai was just a title of respect, and his actual status was greatly reduced. However, his reputation is still the length of the palace, and he is responsible for the internal and external affairs of the royal family. In his early years, Shi Kuang entered the imperial court, which is unlikely to occupy this high position. According to textual research, Shi Kuang's political activities were first seen in the literature in the 14th year of Duke Xiang of Lu (559 BC). Obviously, when Shi Kuang was Taizai, he was mourning the late Duke or the fair Duke. In his later years, Gong Ping was extravagant and greedy. Shi Kuang's repeated remonstrance was related to Taizai's position.

Personality quality

Shi Kuang is strong-willed and straightforward. He is good at rhetoric, but he never follows the trend, has integrity and is not afraid of power.

On one occasion, while drinking with ministers, Jin Pinggong sighed, "Don't be a gentleman, but keep your word." Shi Kuang sat next to him and thought that this was not like what a "gentleman" said, but someone who played the piano and attacked fairness. How dare you be so "guilty" without the spirit of speaking out bravely and dying? In his later years, Gong Ping's palace was extravagant, huge in construction and increasingly decadent and heartless. As a result, the hegemony of the state of Jin declined day by day, so that "the people heard of public life, such as avoiding the enemy." It really takes some courage for Shi Kuang to dare to make a mistake when Jin Pinggong is arrogant and extravagant. In Shuo Yuan, Gong Ping went hunting for three times, thinking that he had a good omen of "overlord coming out of his sheath", while Shi Kuang thought he was deceiving himself. Duke Jinping was furious and said, "I bought wine from different places and asked the doctor to sprinkle thistles on the steps." He let Shi Kuang walk up the steps, while Shi Kuang endured the pain and sighed. Worms born in meat will eat meat, and stupid worms born in water will eat wood. If you want to associate with slaves, you are asking for it. Above the temple, there is no place for thistles. Now this situation has appeared, and he predicted: "Jun will die." It shows Shi Kuang's noble character and melancholy feelings about the future and destiny of Jin State.

Rich knowledge

Shi Kuang is also famous for his erudition. Different from today's artists, musicians in the pre-Qin period were "centralized holders of ancient culture". Can "study the changes of ancient and modern times in Ming Dynasty at the time of heaven and man." Shi Kuang once devoted himself to counting the rhythms of the stars. "There is no difference between four o'clock and four o'clock." In Zuo Zhuan, Shi Kuang mourned his wife and built the city in Jin Dynasty. Some people doubt the age of the old people in Jiangxian County. The old man said, "I was born in the first month, and there are 45 children out of 400. My season is one third of today's." It is not only inferred that his uncle Zhong Huibo (Lu Shengnian) and his son Jin Zhi met in Chengkuang, but it was "seventy-three years ago". It has also been pointed out that during the invasion of Lu this year, Dr. Lu's uncle and grandson captured overseas Chinese Ruan and Bao, and named his son after them. Shi Kuang's profound knowledge is amazing. Village Shi Kuang Tomb Site.