Early Chinese Music Resources: Jin (金)

Early Chinese Music Resources: Jin (金)

compiled by David Badagnani (rev. 29 July 2022)

Clay figurine of a musician playing a sanxian (the instrument's neck is missing).  Excavated in 1973 from a tomb in Xifengfeng village (西冯封村), Zhongzhan District (中站区), Jiaozuo (焦作市), northern Henan province, central China.  Probably from the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234), although it has also been claimed to be from the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368).  Collection of the Henan Museum, Zhengzhou, Henan province, central China.

In an effort to make it more accessible, this document contains resources related to the musical heritage of the Jin Dynasty (金朝, 1115-1234). Ruled by Jurchens originating from the Amur (Heilong) River region of northeast China (today's Heilongjiang province), the Jin Dynasty defeated the Liao Dynasty (in 1125), then the Northern Song Dynasty (in 1127), solidifying its rule over northeast China and much of northern China and becoming increasingly sinicized.

Links to textual sources are highlighted in green.

----------------------------------------------

Historical reference works about the music of the Jin Dynasty

● Jin Shi《金史》(The History of Jin)

The official history of the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234), Jin Shi was compiled during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) under the direction of the historian Toqto'a (Tuotuo), and completed in 1344.  It is one of the Twenty-Four Histories (二十四史).  Music is discussed in volumes 39 and 40.

http://www.guoxue123.com/shibu/0101/00jinsf/039.htm

http://www.guoxue123.com/shibu/0101/00jinsf/040.htm

----------------------------------------------

Jin-era poems about music

http://earlychinesemusic.blogspot.com/2018/09/poems-about-music-song.html

---------------------------------------------

Site index:

http://earlychinesemusic.blogspot.com/2020/04/site-index.html