The Image of Music and Sound in Xunzi's 'On Music': A Study of Character, Cosmos, and the Cultivation of Rites and Music

Section 5: "Yu, Sheng, and Xiao are Harmonious; Guan and Yue Resemble Stars, Sun, and Moon" ($\text{yú shēng xiāo hé guǎn yuè fā měng, sì xīng chén rì yuè}$) — Wind Instruments and Celestial Luminaries

"The yú, shēng, and xiāo are harmonious ($\text{hé}$), and the guǎn and yuè emit fierceness ($\text{fā měng}$), resembling the stars, the sun, and the moon"—The harmonious sound of the yú, shēng, and xiāo combined with the fierce sound of the guǎn and yuè collectively resembles the stars, the sun, and the moon.

How is this correspondence understood$18

The stars, sun, and moon are the luminous bodies in the sky—they hang in the firmament, each possessing its own radiance and orbital path. They exist independently yet shine together, forming the magnificent spectacle of the heavens.

The "harmony" ($\text{hé}$) of the yú, shēng, and xiāo resembles the multitude of stars—stars fill the sky, each in its position and with its own brightness, yet they coexist harmoniously, forming a dazzling stellar canopy. The beauty of the stars lies in their multiplicity and harmony ($\text{duō ér hé}$)—countless stars shining simultaneously without conflict—this is the ultimate state of "harmony" ($\text{hé}$).

The "fierce emission" ($\text{fā měng}$) of the guǎn and yuè resembles the light of the sun and moon—the light of the sun and moon is far brighter than that of the stars, radiating intensely and piercing the darkness—this is the quality of "fierce emission" ($\text{fā měng}$). The sun and moon are the most prominent among the stars, just as the sound of the guǎn and yuè stands out clearly amid the harmonious chorus of the shēng and yú, possessing a striking quality.

In summary, the "harmony" ($\text{hé}$) of the yú, shēng, and xiāo plus the "fierce emission" ($\text{fā měng}$) of the guǎn and yuè is like the harmony of the stars plus the radiance of the sun and moon—possessing both collective harmony and individual prominence, thus constituting the complete celestial scene.

This correspondence also implies a deeper meaning: the stars, sun, and moon are all sources of "light," and their essence is "brightness" ($\text{míng}$)—illuminating darkness and making all things visible. The "harmony" ($\text{hé}$) and "fierce emission" ($\text{fā měng}$) of the wind instruments also serve to "illuminate" within the ensemble—their sound is high and clear (compared to the deep resonance of the drum and bell), making them acoustically "brighter," just as the stars and moon are visually "brighter."

The Yijing, commentary on the Li Trigram ($\text{Lí guà}$), states:

"Li ($\text{Lí}$) is adherence ($\text{lì}$). The sun and moon adhere ($\text{lì yú tiān}$) to Heaven; the hundred grains and grasses adhere to the Earth. When accumulated brightness adheres ($\text{lì}$) to what is correct, then the world is transformed."

The "adherence" ($\text{lì}$) of the sun and moon to Heaven—adhering to Heaven and emitting light. The sound of the wind instruments is similar—adhering to the rhythm of the drum and bell (the foundation of Heaven and Earth) and emitting bright sound.

Cosmologically, Heaven (drum), Earth (bell), and Water (chime stone) form the basic framework of the universe; the stars, sun, and moon (wind instruments) are the luminous bodies operating within this framework, adding brilliance and vitality to the cosmos. In the ensemble, the drum, bell, and chime stone form the basic framework of rhythm and pitch, while the wind instruments interject melodies, adding brilliance and vitality to the music.