Confucianism and Daoism, the two seemingly opposite but complementary Chinese philosophies, have molded Chinese music for more than two millennia. The Confucian classic on music famously stated that, “Great music is simple,” while the Daoist sage Laozi said “Great music has rarified sound.” Zhuangzi went even further to propose that, “The best music has no sound.”
This lecture will explain how Confucian and Daoist metaphysics are the essence of Chinese literati music.
“大乐必易”-- 儒道思想对中国音乐的影响
儒道这两种相反又相成的思想一直影响着中国音乐的发展；从【乐记】“大乐必易”、【老子】“大音希声”到了【庄子】的“大乐无声”都在强调音乐的简约之美。因为儒家的音乐观是以“道德”为第一义，所以反对复杂的音乐。道家提倡“弦外之音”的精神境界，所以也不提倡“繁手淫声”的音乐。本讲将讨论儒道思想如何落实到音乐的弹奏。
For more information or to register to attend, please contact the US-China Music Institute at 845-758-7026 or [email protected]
ABOUT DR. YIP
Mingmei Yip received her PhD in musicology from the University of Paris (Sorbonne) on a full scholarship from the French Government. A master performer on the Qin, she has given lectures and performances at venues such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Carnegie Hall, the New York Philharmonic, Columbia University, Oxford University, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Beijing University, the University of Paris, Amsterdam University, Oberlin Conservatory, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and the China Institute in New York. Dr. Yip has served as consultant for Beijing’s Chinese Qin Association 北京中国古琴会, director for Chinese Kun Opera and Guqin Research Association 中国古琴昆剧研究会理事, artistic consultant for New York Cultural Art Association, as well as on the academic board of the Chengdu International Qin Conference.
Also a writer, Dr. Yip has published fourteen books, with two on the qin. Her latest and 7th novel The Witch’s Market (Kensington Books) which received a glowing review from the New York Times. She wrote columns for seven major newspapers and has appeared on over 50 television and radio programs in Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, and the United States.
She is also accomplished as a painter and calligrapher. A one-person show of her paintings of Guan Yin (the Chinese Goddess of Compassion) and calligraphy was held at the New York Open Center Gallery in SoHo in 2002. Dr. Yip was lecturer and senior lecturer (associate professor) of music at Chinese University of Hong Kong and Baptist University respectively, and in 2005, an International Institute of Asian Studies fellow in Holland researching on the qin. She has taught qin playing and calligraphy at two major Hong Kong Universities.