© The London Youlan Qin Society 2003-2010



Meeting 13 July 2019



Introduction

This, the 102nd meeting of the London Youlan Qin Society, was held in the Bloomsbury Gallery, London.

The London Youan Qin Society was established in 2003 on the 13th day of the 7th month. 13 hui and 7 strings! The society celebrated this anniversary (our 16th) with a special yaji incorporating tea tasting and calligraphy with qin playing.

Music

The following music was played:

    First tea tasting - white tea.

  1. Oulu Wang Ji 鸥鹭忘记 (Forgetting Ulterior Motives), played by Jenny Zhao
  2. Ping Sha Luo Yan 平沙落雁 (Wild Geese Descending on the Level Sand), played by Julian Joseph
  3. Puan Zhou 普庵咒 (Incantation of Puan), played by Elaine Yu (qin), Dennis Lee (xiao) and Bing Ye (muyu and Tibetan singing bowl)

    4. Second tea tasting - green tea.

  4. Shen Ren Chang 神人畅 (Joy of Gods and Men), played by Cheng Yu
  5. Fo Shang Dian 佛上殿 (Hall of the Great Buddha), played by Dennis Lee (xiao) and Elaine Yu (muyu)
  6. Yueren Ge 越人歌 (Song of the Yue Boatman), played by Wang Jing
  7. Chun Xiao Yin 春晓吟 (Song for a Spring Dawn), played by Venus Wong

    8. Third tea tasting - Puer tea.

  8. Yu Qiao Wen Da 渔樵问答 (Dialogue of the Fisherman and the Woodcutter), played by Charles Tsua (qin), Dennis Lee (xiao)
  9. Zui Yu Chang Wan 醉渔唱晚 (Evening Song of the Drunken Fishermen), played by Cheng Xing
  10. Chang Xiangsi 长相思 (Everlasting Longing), played and sung by Ouyang Xiaoyi
  11. Zang Hua Yin 葬花吟 (Song of the Burial of Flowers), qin song from 红楼梦 (Dream of the Red Chamber), played and sung by Elaine Yu
  12. Meihua San Nong 梅花三弄 (Three Variations on the Plum Blossom Theme), played by Cheng Yu (qin), Dennis Lee (xiao)
  13. Improvisation on the poem 花氣薰人帖 (The Fragrance of Flowers) by Huang Tingjian 黃庭堅 (Song Dynasty), played by Charles Tsua. Calligraphy by Wang Jing.
    "花氣薰人欲破禪。心情其實過中年。春來詩思何所似。八節灘頭上水船。"
    "The fragrance of flowers disturbs my meditation, even though I am past middle age. In spring poetic thoughts should come; why is it like rowing a boat against the stream?"
    In 1087, Huang Tingjian wrote two poems to his friend Wang Gong (王鞏) in Yangzhou, saying, "Wang Jinqing (王晉卿, 王詵 [Wang Shen]) has many times written poems waiting for my response, but I have never felt like writing a poem. However, he does not give up, often sending gifts of flowers. In jest, I have written this poem to him!" Thus, this poem was originally meant for Wang Shen and it expressed Huang's desire to avoid responding to him. Here, the brushwork is strong and upright, and the ink varies between dry and moist.
  14. Qiu Feng Ci 秋风词 (Ode to the Autumn Wind), played by Zeng Yi
  15. Puan Zhou 普庵咒 (Incantation of Puan), played by Marnix Wells
  16. Long Xiang Cao 龙翔操 (Soaring of the Dragon), played by Jenny Zhao
  17. Liu Shui 流水 (Flowing Water), played by Cheng Xing



The London Youlan Qin Society would like to thank Zeng Yi for preparing the tea, Wang Jing for doing the calligraphy, and the Bloomsbury Gallery for allowing us to hold our meeting there.