First, the book Le Ji and its author.
There are always different opinions about the time and author of Yue Ji. There have always been two opinions: ① Yue Ji was written by Gongsun Nizi, a disciple of Confucius in the Warring States Period. (2) This book was acquired by Liu Xiang and Liu Xin in the Han Dynasty when they were proofreading ancient books in the pre-Qin period. It is generally believed that this book was compiled by Confucian scholars in the Han Dynasty by using the comments on music made by the pre-Qin philosophers, and was written in the Western Han Dynasty. According to Hanshu, ancient music existed for a long time, then it was lost, and it died out in the Qin Dynasty. At the beginning of Han Dynasty, Hejian man Wang Xian collected ancient books and music with local strength, and together with Sheng Mao and others, * * * adopted the ridicule of Zhou Guan and other literati and compiled music notes. The 24 pieces of Wang Yu Ji contained in Han Shu Literature and Art Annals may be Yue Ji compiled by Hejian Wang Xian, which is not a new work of Han people, but an old book of pre-Qin.
As for the author of Yue Ji, the ancients thought that the five emperors and three kings were all happy: First, Huangdi, Zhuan Xu, Di Ku and Yao Shun were the five emperors, while Yu Xia, Shang Tang and Zhou Wenwang were the three kings; Secondly, Fuxi, Shennong and Huangdi are Huang San, and Shao Hao, Zhuan Xu, Di Ku, Yao and Shun are the five emperors (see preface and justice in Records of the Five Emperors). In addition, in the Book of Rites, Confucianism also called Tai Hao (Fuxi), Yan Di (Shennong), Huangdi, Shao Hao and Zhuan Xu "five emperors", while Yu Xia, Shang Tang and Zhou Wen were the three kings (Mencius Gao Zixia). There are also two kings, Zhou Wen and Wu, who merged into one king. To sum up, the music of five emperors and three kings should refer to the ancient music assigned to the early Zhou Dynasty. Lu Chunqiu Ancient Music records: Fu Qu is unknown, Zhu (Shen Nong's nickname) plays banjo, Ge sings eight quees, Yin Kangshi dances, Huangdi plays fairy pool, Zhuan Xu plays cloud, Yao plays, Shun plays nine moves and six lies. Jin's annotation in Liezi said: "Riding on a cloud is yellow; Six Ying, written by Di Ku; Jiu Shao, Shunle; " "Morning dew", Tang Le's "History of Rites and Music" said: "In the past, Huangdi wrote fairy pool, Zhuan Xu wrote six stems, wrote five English, Yao wrote, Shun wrote Zhao, Yu wrote Xia, Tang wrote Xun, Wu wrote and Shao wrote. According to Zheng Xuan's comments on Li Zhouguan's pure great music, Huangdi's music is called Yunmen Dajuan, Yaole's is called Xianchi, Shunle's is called April, Tang Yue's is called Dayun, and Zhou Wuwang's is called Dawu. With the book Jia, Xiao Jingwei said, "Fuxi is happy, and Shennong is happy for Xia Mou"; He also quoted Yue Wei as saying: Zhuan Xu's song name is five stems, and Di Ku's song name is six English; Quote Huangfu Mi: "The joy of Shao Hao is called Jiuyuan." The reason for these differences is that there are many kinds of ancient music, such as Jia textual research that "Dajuan" is "Zhangda" and so on. Moreover, ancient music has been lost, and scholars say it is inevitable to pass it on. Although it contains the music names of six generations, many of them have been lost during the Warring States period, so Confucius heard Shao's joy and didn't know the taste of meat in March. At this time only Shao and Wu were left.
Second, the structure of Yue Ji
Yue Ji is one of the forty-nine articles in The Book of Rites. The Book of Rites is called the Nineteen Records of Music, with about 5,000 words, including 1 1 sub-chapters: Le Ben, Le Lun, Li Le, Xerox, Le Yan, Le Xiang, Le Qing and Le Qing. According to Liu Xiang's records in the Western Han Dynasty, there are 23 ancient music records, each of which is recorded in his Bielu. Although Bielu has been lost, Tang Kongyingda said in the Notes to the Book of Rites that the Yue Ji contained in Bielu "still existed" at that time. According to Kong's records, these 23 articles include the above-mentioned 1 1, as well as playing music and playing music.
Third, the content of Yue Ji
The book Yue Ji discusses all aspects of music, mainly including the following aspects:
(1) made an incisive exposition on the essence of music in Yue Ji, affirming that music is the art of expressing emotions. It believes: "Every sound is born of the human heart, and things are natural when the human heart moves." "Anyone who speaks, who has a heart, is moved by the heart, so it is shaped by the sound: the sound is written, which is the sound." The exposition of the essence of music in Yue Ji has a simple materialistic point of view.
(2) Regarding the relationship between music and politics, Yue Ji emphasizes the close relationship between music and politics, and between music and society. He believes that: "Therefore, the vocal music that governs the world is its politics; The voice of troubled times is angry, and its politics is good; The voice of national subjugation grieves, and its people are trapped. The way of vocalization is connected with politics. " This theory caters to the requirements of feudal rulers to safeguard their own interests.
(3) Regarding the social function of music, Yue Ji advocates that music should be coordinated with the management of state affairs, the correction of social atmosphere, the rule of etiquette and ethical education, and serve the rulers' martial arts. It holds that: "When you enjoy the ancestral temple, you will listen to it from top to bottom, and you will be respectful; In the village of the patriarch, it would be great if all ages listened; In the boudoir, when the father and son listen together, they become close. Therefore, musicians judge one by one, compare things with ornaments, and follow the rhythm with words. Therefore, the harmony between father and son, the harmony between monarch and minister, and the attachment of all peoples is the first line of Wang Li's music. " "Rites, music, punishment and politics are different, so they are governed by the people's hearts." "It is the political pleasure of the former king, not because of his extreme appetite and eyes and ears, but because he will teach the people to settle their likes and dislikes and return to human nature. "
(4) About the aesthetic feeling of music, Yueji has a profound exposition. It emphasizes that the pleasant feeling of music is indispensable to human life, and it thinks: "Happiness means happiness, and we can't avoid human feelings." As a master of Confucian aesthetic thoughts in the pre-Qin period, Yue Ji has had a far-reaching influence on the development of classical music for more than two thousand years and occupies an important position in the history of world music thoughts.