Page 103 - Chinese Porcelain Vol I, Galland

SYMBOLS, EMBLEMS, AND CHARMS. .71

relations between the different ranks of society, and causing them
to move in consentaneous accord." Quoting again from the
"
Middle Kingdom," vol. ii. p. 164 : "The musical instruments
used in the army are chiefly the gong and trumpet, but the entire
list of stringed, wind, and percussion, comprises almost every one
we have." P. 167 : "Among a large number of instruments briefly
described in the Chinese there are seventeen
chrestomathy,
kinds of drums, from the large ones suspended in temples to
assist in worship, to others of lesser size and diverse shape, used
in war, in theatres, and in bands. Gongs, cymbals (No. 94),
tambourines, and musical vases, are also described in consider-
able variety, the last consisting of a curious arrangement of
twelve cups, more or less filled with water, and struck with
rods. The Chinese are fond of the tinkling of small pieces of
sonorous glass, caused by the wind striking them against each
other as they are suspended from a frame or lamp. The
simple succession of sounds, arising from striking upon a
harmonicon, tinkling these glasses together, or touching
different sized cymbals suspended in a frame (Nos. 95, 96,
is a favourite of music."
97), species
"
Nos. 98, 99, 100. Lute. Middle Kingdom," vol. ii. p. 168 :
"
The instruments to be are not
stringed played by thrumming
as numerous as those of percussion, but they display more science.
The kin, or scholar's lute, is considered as the most finished it
;
very ancient, and derives
is its name from the word kin, to
' and
prohibit, because it restrains and checks evil passions,
corrects the human heart.' It is a board about fonr feet in
and
length eighteen inches wide, convex above and flat beneath,
where are two holes into hollows. There are seven
opening
of silk, which over a near the wide end
strings pass bridge
through the board, and are tightened by nuts beneath ; they
are secured on two at the smaller end."
pegs
98 " K'in, the Chinese lute, a instru-
Mayers, p. : stringed
ment, considered as yielding the purest strains of harmony.
Its invention is ascribed to the ancient Shen
emperor, Nung.
Combined with the sell, or of it constitutes
harp many strings,
an emblem of which the She adduces.
harmony, king repeatedly
'
Thus the lines quoted by Confucius, Happy union with wife
and children is like the music of lutes and
harps.' Again,
' the of the lute and
from the celebrated Kwan Tsu ode,
string