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

Section 1: The Basic Framework of Pre-Qin Cosmology

The basic framework of pre-Qin cosmology can be summarized in the following aspects:

Heaven and Earth Theory ($\text{Tiān Dì Lùn}$): The fundamental structure of the cosmos is Heaven and Earth. Heaven is above, Earth is below; all things exist between them. Heaven’s qualities are vigor, movement, hardness, and brightness; Earth’s qualities are compliance, stillness, softness, and darkness. The circulation of Yin and Yang between Heaven and Earth produces the four seasons and the myriad things.

The Yijing, Great Treatise ($\text{Xì Cí}$), First Part, states:

"Heaven is esteemed and Earth is lowly, thus Qian and Kun are established. Lowliness and height delineate what is distinguished; what is noble and what is base is thereby determined. Movement and stillness have a constant pattern; hardness and softness are thereby distinguished. Things gather by similarity, and kinds separate by their distinctions, thus fortune and misfortune arise. When established in Heaven, they become imagery ($\text{xiàng}$); when formed on Earth, they become form ($\text{xíng}$); the transformations are thereby revealed."

This passage is the general outline of pre-Qin cosmology. Heaven esteemed, Earth lowly—the basic order of the cosmos. Movement and stillness have a constant pattern—the basic operation of the cosmos. Imagery in Heaven, Form on Earth—the basic mode of cosmic presentation.

Yin-Yang Theory: All things can be described by the duality of Yin and Yang. Yang is Heaven, brightness, movement, hardness, heat, above, outer, masculine... Yin is Earth, darkness, stillness, softness, cold, below, inner, feminine... Yin and Yang are not two separate entities but a pair of descriptive categories for the qualities of things.

"One Yin and one Yang is called the Dao." (Yijing, Great Treatise)

The alternation of Yin and Yang is the "Dao."

Five Phases Theory ($\text{Wǔ Xíng Lùn}$): The operation of the myriad things can be described by five elements (or five forces): Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. These five phases have generative and overcoming relationships: Wood generates Fire, Fire generates Earth, Earth generates Metal, Metal generates Water, Water generates Wood; Wood overcomes Earth, Earth overcomes Water, Water overcomes Fire, Fire overcomes Metal, Metal overcomes Wood. The Five Phases correspond to the four seasons, the five directions, the five colors, the five tastes, and the five notes, forming a vast corresponding system.

Qi Theory: The essence of all things is qi (vital energy). The condensation of qi forms tangible things; the dissipation of qi forms the formless. Qi is differentiated into clear and turbid—the clear qi rises to form Heaven; the turbid qi sinks to form Earth.

"Essence ($\text{jīng}$) is the essence of qi. When the Dao of qi arises, it generates the five grains below and forms the array of stars above." (Guanzi, Nei Ye)

Xunzi’s system of corresponding instruments to the cosmos—the "Imagery of Sound and Music"—is constructed within this cosmological framework.