Interpretation: The banging of pottery, the clapping of one's thighs and the playing of the zither, and the singing of the crows are so pleasing to the ears and eyes that it is indeed the authentic music of the Qin State.
“The husband beats the urn and percusses on the fou, plays the zither and beats the beard, and sings and sings, which is quick to the ears and eyes, and is the voice of the real Qin Dynasty.” This comes from Li Si’s "Book of Remonstrances and Expulsions from Guests". The relevant passages and translations are as follows :
Original text:
The jade that your Majesty sends to Kunshan today is the treasure of Sui and Harmony, the pearl that hangs the bright moon, the sword of Tai'a, rides on the thin horse, builds green The flag of the phoenix, the drum of the tree spirit. Qin did not give birth to any of these treasures, and why did your majesty talk about them? The children of Qin must be born later, but they are luminous walls and do not decorate the court; the rhinoceros and elephant weapons are not for playing; the daughters of Zheng and Wei are not for the harem; and the handsome and elegant horses are not for the outer stables; Jiangnan Gold and tin are not for use, and Western Shu's paintings are not for mining. Therefore, those who decorate the harem, fill the palace, entertain the mind, and speak to the ears and eyes must come from the Qin Dynasty. Then the hairpins of Wanzhu, the Er of Fuji, the clothes of Ajin, and the ornaments of brocade are not advanced; they follow the vulgarity and refinement. , Jiaye, a graceful and graceful Zhao girl, does not stand on one side. The husband beats the urn and percusses on the fou, plays the zither and beats the beard, and sings and sings, which quickens the ears and eyes, and is the true voice of Qin. Zheng and Wei Sangjian, "Zhao Yu" and "Wu Xiang" are the joys of foreign countries. Now, if we give up beating the urn and knocking on the fou and go to Zheng and Wei, we withdraw from playing the zither and go to "Zhao and Yu", what if that's the case? The present pleasure is just a matter of observation. This is not the case when taking people now, without asking whether they are allowed or not, regardless of the merits. Those who are not Qin will go, and those who are guests will be chased away. However, the most important thing is to care about sex, music, pearls and jade; while the most important thing is to care about the people. This is not the art of crossing the sea and controlling the princes.
Translation:
Now Your Majesty has received the beautiful jade from Kunshan. In the palace there are pearls from Suihou and the jade from the He clan. Ornaments are adorned with pearls that shine like the bright moon, and Tai'a is worn on his body. The sword is mounted on a precious slender horse, the flag is set up with green phoenix feathers, and the display is a good drum covered with the skin of a spirit beast. None of these precious things are produced in Qin, but your majesty likes them very much. Why is this? If it must be produced in the Qin State before it is allowed to be used, then this kind of luminous jade will never become a decoration of the Qin court; utensils carved from rhinoceros horn and ivory will not become his majesty’s playthings; Zheng and Wei Women who are good at singing and dancing will never fill His Majesty's harem; famous horses from the north will never fill His Majesty's stable; the gold and tin from the south of the Yangtze River will not be used by Your Majesty, nor will the paintings of Western Shu. As decorative decoration. If all these things that are used to decorate the harem, serve as concubines, make the heart happy, and be pleasing to the eye must be grown and produced in Qin before they can be used, then hairpins decorated with jewelry, jade pendants on the ears, silk clothes, brocade None of the decorations will be presented to His Majesty; those beauties who are elegant and changeable and can adapt to the changes of the times will not stand beside His Majesty. The banging of pottery, the clapping of the zither, and the singing of the crows are indeed the authentic music of the Qin Dynasty; the singing of Zheng and Wei Sangjian, "Zhao Yu" and "Wu Xiang" The music can be regarded as foreign music. Now, Your Majesty has abandoned the authentic Qin music of percussion on pottery vessels, and adopted the obscene and sweet music of Zheng and Wei. Instead of Qin Zheng, he wanted "Zhao Yu". Why is this? Isn't it because foreign music can be satisfying and satisfy the needs of the ears and eyes? But now your Majesty is not like this with his servants. Regardless of whether they are available or not, regardless of the merits, anyone who is not from the Qin Kingdom must leave, and all guests must be expelled. This shows that what your Majesty values ??only is the beauty, appearance, and beauty; but what he despises is the people. This is not a method that can be used to control the world and subdue the princes!
About the author:
Li Si (approximately 284 BC - 208 BC), Li family, named Si, with the courtesy name Tonggu. At the end of the Warring States Period, he was a native of Shangcai, Chu State (now Li Silou Village, Lugang Township, Shangcai County, Henan Province). A famous politician, writer and calligrapher in the Qin Dynasty.