The Harmony On Guqin Appreciation

Harmony is a significant term in Chinese philosophy. Its connotation includes two aspects: it means the unification of opposition and diversity in dialectics; it can also refer to the optimal state of balance or equilibrium. This concept has its birth in traditional Chinese music whose requirement is to help people attain the righteous and peaceful mind. Since then,'harmony'begins to spread to various aspects from ethics to politics, from personal to social formation. After all,'harmony'characterizes the highest aesthetic ideal of Chinese ancestors.Guqin, a seven-stringed plucked instrument, also called yuqin or yaoqin, gains its name until recently to distinguish it from other similar types of instrument. It became the hotspot in theoretical research fields after its selection as the representative work of second batch of oral and intangible heritage of humanity by UNESCO. Confucianism attaches importance to music. Guqin, as the instrument of Saint, requires strict playing skills, which can be concluded as harmony. This thesis intends to verify that harmony is the nucleus of guqin, which might shed light on its further development in the 21st century. We also explore the psychological effects of guqin. This thesis tries to probe into the specific reflection of the spirit on guqin art. This thesis intends to help better inheriting and developing the traditional Chinese arts.The main ideas of this thesis are as follows: To verify that harmony is the innate nucleus of guqin. Guqin is holy in nature and can be used for cultivation. It is unique in the light of the player and atmosphere wherein it is played. By analyzing the psychological status of the player, the finger position and the atmosphere mentioned in ancient literatures, we can conclude that harmony is within the whole process of guqin. By examining the player and the melody, we can claim that guqin represents the harmonious sound of China. One story is cited to show it is beneficial to build up the healthy society.As the information age has come, the inheritance of guqin is confronted with the bottleneck since people regard guqin as difficult to learn but easy to forget and unpleasant to ear. However, by studying the instrumental spiritual and musical characteristics of guqin, the conclusion is reached in the thesis that guqin has got a good chance for its development nowadays. From guqin we can gain peace of mind and we can know how to live with happiness in modern age. In this way, by means of scrutinizing guqin arts, we can better delve into the function of guqin, which serves to clarify and edify our mental state. Looking back and to find an oasis in our mind, we can match the fast tempo of modern life to strive for a better life.