On Water Culture In Chinese Guqin Art

Chinese guqin is the most unique traditional musical instrument of Chinese nation,and its appearance embodies the musical ideal and order of this people since ancient times,symbolizes lofty and reserved personal cultivation,and delivers an natural aesthetic carriage by combining beauty and good.Acting as the first one of“the four major arts of China”,Chinese guqin has neutral and soft tone and therefore is used by sages for self-cultivation.In a sense,“water”is the source of Chinese civilization.In Chinese philosophy,the image which can mostly display its inner quality is “water”.Chinese guqin contains water culture in its music,integrates rhythm of people’s life and that of Mother Nature as one,and is crystallized into the highest state of aesthetic pursue of Chinese literati.The water culture of Chinese guqin has a long history,plays multiple roles in social and personal education,guidance and aesthetics,and has been loaded with many feelings and thoughts of Chinese literati.As one of the music instruments which represents Chinese music,Guqin is not,from the beginning,a mere making-sound tool.Its source,body structure,tone features,and musical styles are all closely connected with “water” in Chinese philosophy.This paper takes water culture in Chinese guqin art as its research subject,trying to disclose the spirit and aesthetic expression contained in this arts.By combining and analyzing the related research results in present academic circle,this paper begins from the relationship between Guqin creation and water,and then traces its appearance and the relationship between its shape and “water”.This paper expounds the influence of Chinese traditional water culture on ancient Guqin art.By taking the tone of the ancient Guqin,playing mode and performance schools as the focus,the paper introduces the water expression in playing the ancient Guqin.At the end,based on literary works and musical works of the ancient Guqin,the paper expounds the water image in the ancient Guqin works,and thus displays the inner relationship and aesthetic meaning between Guqin arts and water.