High Mountain and Running River

There are lyre and zither versions of High Mountain and Running Water, both inspired by the classical allusion: Boya encountering a person who understands his zither performance.

                                                                                 

The story of "High Mountain and Running Water" had been in wide circulation during the Warring States Period. This music, legendarily attributed to Yu Boya, tells the story that he and Zhong Ziqi became bosom friends through his zither performance. Originally one single piece of music, it was divided into two separate pieces: High Mountain, and Running River, each with its own component segments. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties with the development of lyre performing techniques, the musical score also changed dramatically. Musical scores were first seen in Mysterious Musical Scores by Zhu Quan of the Ming Dynasty, but later music performers mostly performed lyre or zither according to Lyre Musical Scores of the Tianwen Pavilion codified by Tang Yiming of the Qing dynasty. In the book is collected the musical score of Running River adapted by the Sichuan School of musicians, Zhang Kongshan, which has been very popular for the vivid and appealing imitation of the gurgling running water brought about by various techniques.

 

There are many Zheng zither versions of High Mountain and Running Water, among which three are most popular: the versions of Shandong, Zhejiang, and Henan Zither Schools. And among the three ones, the version of Zhejiang School is most influential. Although the musical pieces for lyre and zither are different from each other, the theme of seeking friendship through musical performance has never changed.