The decadening of the song of sensuality

1. Music originates from the heart. When the inner emotion is stirred and then displayed, a sound is produced. 2. Sounds combine to form melodies and this is what we call “music”. During times of peace and prosperity, the music played is serene and joyful because the political situation has been tolerant and harmonious. 3. On the other hand, music played in tumultuous times is filled with anger because the government has violated the law of nature and the common aspiration of the people. 4. When a country perishes, the music played is sorrowful and melancholic because people have been left in desolation. 《Scroll 7: Li Ji - THE GOVERNING PRINCIPLES OF ANCIENT CHINA VOLUME 1.》 🌸 1. The inner spirit of music is interconnected with politics. 2. In the Chinese pentatonic scale, gong ( 宫 ) symbolizes the ruler; shang (商) symbolizes government officials; jue ( 角 ) symbolizes the people, zhi ( 徵 ) symbolizes incidents; yu ( 羽 ) symbolizes material things. 3. If the five modes are harmonious, discordant sounds will not be heard. 4. However, if the gong mode is disorderly, the music will appear scattered without any central theme. This reflects the arrogance of the ruler and the departure of wise government officials. 5. If the shang mode is disorderly, music will sound askew. This reflects the moral decadence of government officials. 6. If the jue mode is disorderly, the music will be filled with worries reflecting a tyrannical government and the resentment of the people. 7. If the zhi mode is disorderly, music will sound extremely sad. This reflects the never- ending exploitation of farm labor and the suffering of the people. 8. If the yu mode is disorderly, music will sound of danger and oppression reflecting poverty and the lack of material wealth among the people. 9. If all five musical modes are disorderly, crashing onto each other, this music is termed as “conceited music”—music without any regularity. Once music has reached this point, a country will be destroyed in no time. 《Scroll 7: Li Ji - THE GOVERNING PRINCIPLES OF ANCIENT CHINA VOLUME 1.》 🌸 1. During tumultuous times, music played on wooden and leather instruments produces sounds that are like roaring thunder; music played on copper and stone instruments produces sounds that are furious and shocking; light dance music played on bamboo or silk instruments produces sounds that are like cawing outcries. 2. These types of loud music can trouble people’s mind, deafen ears and sway people to become licentious but they cannot bring happiness to people. 3. Therefore, as music becomes more and more insolent, it will precipitate a greater incidence of depression, more chaos, and more disrespect for the ruler. Subsequently, music loses its original meaning and purpose. 《Scroll 39: Lü Shi Chun Qiu - THE GOVERNING PRINCIPLES OF ANCIENT CHINA VOLUME 1.》 🌸 Music comes from the heart, and propriety sets a standard for a person’s outward behavior. Grand music must be amiable and grand ceremonies must be simple and modest. 《Scroll 7: Li Ji - THE GOVERNING PRINCIPLES OF ANCIENT CHINA VOLUME 1.》