The Resonance of Music
 
The Chinese guqin (a plucked, seven-stringed instrument in the zither family), chess, calligraphy and painting are the four essential forms of art that a Chinese gentleman in ancient times was required to master. The Chinese guqin, in fact, was a musical instrument that a Chinese gentleman would travel with in ancient times and that probably explains why a Chinese guqin was commonly associated with virtue, wisdom and gentility.
 
The music composed for the Chinese guqin manifests the profundity of Chinese culture, as it exudes a peaceful, graceful, noble and broad-minded style and transports its audience to an elevated and ethereal world. In ancient times Chinese gentlemen were marked by their high moral values and virtues and by their sincere efforts of doing their best in everything, including learning to master the Chinese guqin. There are many inspirational stories about Chinese gentlemen learning to play the guqin.
 
Shi Wen lived in the State of Zheng during the Spring and Autumn Period (770 – 476 BC). Shi Wen decided to seek discipleship under the famous guqin musician Shi Xiang when he heard that Shi Xiang's music was so appealing that birds would dance to its rhythm and fish in the pond would leap in tempo. Shi Wen then went to Shi Xiang's residence in the State of Lu to seek discipleship.
 
Shi Xiang agreed to take Shi Wen as a disciple and started by teaching him to tune the guqin and find the keys. However, Shi Wen's fingers were so stiff that he couldn't play one single score after three years of learning. Finally, Shi Xiang declared, "You lack talent for music and concentration in practicing." Shi Wen replied, "It is not that I cannot tune a guqin or find the keys. It is not that I cannot play a complete score. I am not concerned about just tuning, sheet music or rhythm. My true ambition is to express my heart with music! Before I can truly express my heart with music, I will continue to hesitate to touch the strings. Master, please give me more time and see if I can make some progress!"
 
In serenity, Shi Wen practiced daily and tried to feel the music with his heart while continuing to cultivate his mind. After a while, he went calling on Shi Xiang, who asked, "How is your playing these days?" Shi Wen replied confidently, "My music and heart are one now. Please allow me to present my music to you." Thus Shi Wen began to play the guqin. At first, he played the strings of Metal sound (according to the ancient Chinese Theory of the Five Elements, including Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth) and the music exuded the feeling of autumn. (In the Theory of the Five Elements, metal corresponds to autumn.) Shi Xiang felt as though a gentle autumn breeze was caressing his face and the scenery was turning into autumn gold.
 
Next Shi Wen played the strings of Wood sound, which exuded the feelings of February. (In the Theory of the Five Elements, Wood corresponds to spring.) Shi Xiang felt as though he heard a warm spring breeze in his ears and nature began to grow.
 
Next, Shi Wen played the strings of Water sound and expressed the feeling of November. In a short while, Shi Xiang felt as though he was surrounded by frost and snow and the rivers were frozen.
 
Next, Shi Wen played the strings of Fire sound and expressed the feeling of May. Shi Xiang felt as though summer had arrived, the blazing sun was as if it was on fire and all the snow melted.
 
Before the music came to an end, Shi Wen played all the strings and made them intertwine in harmony. All of a sudden, Shi Xiang felt a gentle breeze and auspicious clouds in the sky gathered towards them. He felt as though an elixir had descended from heaven and a clear spring emerged from the ground.
 
Shi Xiang was absolutely delighted with Shi Wen's music and exclaimed, "You played wonderfully! You have transported me to your world of music and expressed true beauty!"
 
Shi Wen later became the most famous musician of his era in the State of Zheng.
 
The moral of the story is that the key to mastering the arts does not depend solely on skills, but on comprehending its meaning. Shi Wen set a good example for studying the meaning of music and persevering in elevating his virtue and quality of enlightenment. Lofty music does not come from mastering the strings. A true musician does not deliver music, but delivers his heart through the music. Everyone can deliver music, but that's the lowest realm of art. The highest form of art comes from one's heart. It's a realm in which only those who pursue it with a pure heart will understand. The significance of the Chinese guqin has surpassed music and become a symbol of traditional Chinese culture and ideal personality because only a true gentleman will be able to deliver his morality through the guqin. Truly beautiful music will echo in the hearts of the audience, for the musician touches the soul of the audience with his pure and beautiful mind.
 
音乐的震撼
 
琴、棋、书、画是中国自古以来谦谦君子必须掌握的四种技艺，古琴是古代君子随身携带必备的乐器，是圣贤和君子的象征。古琴音乐融入博大精深的传统文化，反映一种清和淡雅、温柔敦厚的风格，追求宁静高远的境界。古人注重操守，凡事讲求用心，学琴弹琴的故事往往给世人以启迪。
 
春秋时郑国的师文想学弹琴，他听说著名的乐师师襄在弹琴的时候，鸟儿能踏著节拍飞舞，鱼儿也会随著韵律跳跃，心中十分向往，于是来到鲁国拜师襄为师。
 
师襄教师文调弦定音，可是师文的手指十分僵硬，学了三年，竟弹不成一个乐章。师襄对他说：“你还是缺乏悟性，学琴不够专心。”师文说：“我并不是不能调好弦、定准音，也不是不会弹奏完整的乐章。然而我所关注的并非只是调弦，我所向往的也不仅仅是音调节奏。我的真正追求是想用琴声来表达我的心声啊，在我尚不能做到使音乐发自于内心，再感应到乐器（内得于心，外应于器）的时候，我还不敢放手去拨弄琴弦。请老师再给我一些时日，看是否能有长进！”
 
师文静下心来，每日潜心学习，用心体悟音乐表达的意境，不断完善修养。过了一段时间，又去拜见师襄，师襄问：“你的琴现在弹的怎样啦？”师文胸有成竹的说：“得之心矣，请让我试弹一曲吧。”师文开始拨弄琴弦，他首先奏响了属于金音的商弦，使之发出代表八月的南吕乐律，只觉琴声挟著凉爽的秋风拂面，草木都要成熟结果了。
 
面对这金黄收获的秋色，他又拨动了属于木音的角弦，使之发出代表二月的夹钟乐律，随之又好像有温暖的春风在耳畔回荡，顿时引来草茂花荣，好一派万象更新的春天景色。
 
接著，师文奏响了属于水音的羽弦，使之发出代表十一月的黄钟乐律，不一会儿，竟使人感到霜雪交加，江河封冻，一派肃杀景象如在眼前。
 
再往下，他叩响了属于火音的征弦，使之发出代表五月的蕤宾乐律，又使人仿佛见到了骄阳似火，坚冰消释。
 
在乐曲将终之际，师文又奏响了五音之首的宫弦，使之与商、角、征、羽四弦产生和鸣，顿时在四周便有南风轻拂，祥云缭绕，恰似甘露从天而降，清泉于地涌出。
 
师襄高兴极了，称赞师文说：“你的琴弹奏的太美妙了！使人有如身临其境，感受到甚么是真正的美！”师文后来成为郑国的一代乐师。
 
师文学琴的故事说明：无论学习任何技艺，不是光凭外在的技巧，而是在于领悟内涵。要像师文那样深究其理，矢志不渝，提高修养和悟性。音乐艺术之高超，曲所存者不在弦，所志者不在声，在于“得心应手”。形而下者，人人可达；唯形而之上的道，不是非常之人，就无法体会出这个非常之道。古琴的意义，远远超越了音乐，成为整个中国传统文化和理想人格的象征，表达出道德内涵，是人与人心灵的沟通而产生的共鸣，是人们在用纯正、美好的心灵感化四方。