The Image of Music and Sound in Xunzi's 'On Music': A Study of Character, Cosmos, and the Cultivation of Rites and Music
This paper offers an in-depth interpretation of the 'Image of Music and Sound' (Sheng Yue zhi Xiang) discussed in Xunzi's 'On Music,' clarifying the Pre-Qin meaning of 'Xiang' (image/analogy) and elucidating how the qualities of sound correspond to the myriad things in the cosmos. It further situates this correspondence within Xunzi's Confucian framework of 'transforming human nature through rites and music' to explore the cosmological significance and pedagogical function of music.
Section 2: The Eternal Resonance
The questions raised by Xunzi’s "Imagery of Sound and Music"—regarding the relationship between sound/music and nature, music and politics, body and mind, and the individual and the group—remain profoundly relevant today.
Music and Nature: Xunzi believed that the beauty of music is rooted in nature—the materials of the instruments come from nature, and their sonic qualities are determined by those materials. This reminds us that music is not purely a human construct but a dialogue between humanity and nature.
Music and Politics: Xunzi compared the ensemble to a miniature state—with a sovereign, ministers, populace, order, coordination, and harmony. This analogy reveals an eternal truth: good governance, like good music, is not monotonous uniformity but a coordinated harmony of diverse elements.
Body and Mind: Xunzi’s theory of dance demonstrates that the training of the body is the cultivation of the mind; the two are inseparable. This challenges the bias toward prioritizing the mind over the body, asserting the irreplaceable value of physical practice (like dance and ritual) in perfecting character.
Individual and Group: "The multitude accumulates intent, profoundly harmonious!" ($\text{zhòng jī yì zhōng zhōng hū}$) describes an ideal group state—where each person maintains their uniqueness (their own movements, their own position) while harmoniously coordinating with others (no one acts contrary, the whole proceeds with ease). This is the ultimate state of "harmony without sameness" ($\text{hé ér bù tóng}$)—achieving collective harmony while preserving individual character.
The words written by Master Xunzi over two millennia ago continue to resonate powerfully today, not only for their refined literary beauty but for their profound depth of thought. "The Imagery of Sound and Music" is not just a passage on musical aesthetics but a hymn to the beauty of the cosmos, the harmony of all things, and the ultimate goodness of human culture.
"The multitude accumulates intent, profoundly harmonious!" ($\text{zhòng jī yì zhōng zhōng hū}$)!—As we read this final exclamation, it seems we can hear the sounds of the dance from two thousand years ago echoing in our ears—the drum grandly beautiful, the bell comprehensively substantial, the chime stone pure and regulated, the yú, shēng, and xiāo harmonious while the guǎn and yuè fiercely emit, the xūn and chí expansive and ample, the sè easily good, the qín pleasantly feminine, the song pure and exhaustive, and the dancers’ bodies moving calmly between Heaven and Earth, combining the intent of the Dao of Heaven—
The multitude accumulates intent, profoundly harmonious!
Appendix: List of Cited Pre-Qin Classics
| Classic | Cited Chapters/Sections |
|---|---|
| Xunzi | On Music ($\text{Yuè Lùn}$), On Human Nature ($\text{Xìng È}$), On Names ($\text{Zhèng Míng}$), On Self-Cultivation ($\text{Xiū Shēn}$), The Kingly Way ($\text{Wáng Zhì}$), On Heaven ($\text{Tiān Lùn}$), Exhortation to Learning ($\text{Quàn Xué}$), On Wealth ($\text{Fù Guó}$), The Way of the Ruler ($\text{Jūn Dào}$), Not Deviating ($\text{Bù Gǒu}$), Against the Twelve Philosophers ($\text{Fēi Shí Èr Zǐ}$), Dispelling Obscurity ($\text{Jiě Bì}$), Regarding the Seat of the Cauldrons ($\text{Yòu Zuò}$), On Rites ($\text{Lǐ Lùn}$), On Rites and Music ($\text{Lǐ Yuè}$) |
| Analects | Xué Ér, Wèi Zhēng, Bā Yì, Lǐ Rén, Shū Èr, Zǐ Hán, Wèi Líng Gōng, Yáng Huò |
| Yijing | Qian, Kun, Li, Zhen Trigrams; Great Treatise ($\text{Xì Cí}$), Parts 1 & 2 |
| Laozi | Chapters 2, 8, 25, 41, 78 |
| Zhuangzi | Discussion on Making Things Equal ($\text{Qí Wù Lùn}$), The Way of Authenticity ($\text{Yǎng Shēng Zhǔ}$), The Way of Heaven ($\text{Tiān Yùn}$) |
| Book of Rites | Record of Music ($\text{Yuè Jì}$) |
| Book of Odes | Guān Jū, Lù Míng, Nǚ Yuē Jī Míng, Cháng Dì, Hé Rén Sī, Jiǎn Xī, Yǒu Gǔ, Nà |
| Book of Documents | Yi Ji, Shuō Mìng |
| Rites of Zhou | Grand Master ($\text{Dà Shī}$), Bell Master ($\text{Zhōng Shī}$), Chime Stone Master ($\text{Qìng Shī}$), Drum Master ($\text{Gǔ Rén}$), Artificers' Record ($\text{Kǎo Gōng Jì}$) |
| Zuo Zhuan | 20th Year of Duke Zhao, 2nd Year of Duke Cheng |
| Discourses of the States | Speech of Zheng ($\text{Zhèng Yǔ}$), Discourse of Zhou, Second Part ($\text{Zhōu Yǔ Xià}$) |
| Classic of Mountains and Seas | Great Wilderness: East ($\text{Dà Huāng Dōng Jīng}$), Southern Mountains ($\text{Nán Shān Jīng}$) |
| Songs of Chu | Hymns to the Great Unity of the Eastern Emperor ($\text{Dōng Huáng Tài Yī}$), Hymns to the Lord of the Clouds ($\text{Yún Zhōng Jūn}$), Lament for the Fallen ($\text{Guó Shāng}$) |
| Lüshi Chunqiu | Ancient Music ($\text{Gǔ Yuè}$), Twelve Records ($\text{Shí Èr Jì}$), Twelve Records ($\text{Shí Èr Jì}$) |
| Guanzi | Inner Cultivation ($\text{Nèi Yè}$), Five Phases ($\text{Wǔ Xíng}$), Measuring Out ($\text{Kuí Dù}$) |
| Mozi | Against Music, Part One ($\text{Fēi Yuè Shàng}$) |
Xuanji Editorial Department
This essay provides an in-depth interpretation of the "Imagery of Sound and Music" section in Xunzi: On Music from the perspectives of pre-Qin Confucianism, Daoism, and ancient cosmology, striving to remain within the original context of the pre-Qin language. The arguments presented represent one line of inquiry, and we respectfully seek critique from specialists.