MUZI MUZIChinese Matrix

Shengguan Ensembles

Guan and sheng in step, old scores handed down

Introduction

Northern temple and village ensembles led by the guan oboe with sheng mouth organs

Shengguan music is a northern ensemble genre in which the guan, a short double-reed pipe, leads and sheng mouth organs follow, with dizi flute, yunluo gong-chime, drums and cymbals. It is played in Beijing, central Hebei and around Mount Wutai in Shanxi, at temple services, village rites and funerals. The repertoire has suites, short pieces and percussion sections, copied in gongche notation and taught by rote. The sheng already appears in the Book of Songs, and the gourd sheng from the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng are the oldest found. The Zhihua Temple in Beijing formed its ensemble in 1446 and is now in its 27th generation, and village music associations such as that of Qujiaying in Gu'an, Hebei, still perform. The genre has entered the national intangible heritage list since 2006.

Timeline

Zhou to present
600 BCE · OriginThe Book of Songs ode 'Lu ming' has guests 'playing the se and blowing the sheng' at a feast: the sheng was a banquet instrument under the Zhou.433 BCE · EvolutionSeveral gourd-bodied sheng from the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng at Suizhou, Hubei (c. 433 BCE) are the oldest sheng found in China; the sheng is among the earliest free-reed instruments.1446 · EvolutionIn 1446 the Zhihua Temple in Beijing began to form its ensemble after the eunuch Wang Zhen brought court music into it; its Jing music, played on sheng, guan, dizi, yunluo and drum, has been handed down since.2006 · ImpactIn 2006 Jizhong shengguan music (Ⅱ-59), Zhihua Temple Jing music (Ⅱ-65) and Wutai Buddhist music (Ⅱ-66) entered the first national ICH list; in 2008 shengguan music (Ⅱ-121) entered the second, and Ⅱ-59 was extended to twelve more associations, including Xiongxian ancient music.
  1. 600 BCEOriginThe Book of Songs ode 'Lu ming' has guests 'playing the se and blowing the sheng' at a feast: the sheng was a banquet instrument under the Zhou.Literature › Plucking the Zither and Playing the Reed Pipes for Guests
  2. 433 BCEEvolutionSeveral gourd-bodied sheng from the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng at Suizhou, Hubei (c. 433 BCE) are the oldest sheng found in China; the sheng is among the earliest free-reed instruments.
  3. 1446EvolutionIn 1446 the Zhihua Temple in Beijing began to form its ensemble after the eunuch Wang Zhen brought court music into it; its Jing music, played on sheng, guan, dizi, yunluo and drum, has been handed down since.
  4. 2006ImpactIn 2006 Jizhong shengguan music (Ⅱ-59), Zhihua Temple Jing music (Ⅱ-65) and Wutai Buddhist music (Ⅱ-66) entered the first national ICH list; in 2008 shengguan music (Ⅱ-121) entered the second, and Ⅱ-59 was extended to twelve more associations, including Xiongxian ancient music.

Heritage Listings

  1. 2006National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage1st batch · traditional music: Ⅱ-59 Jizhong shengguan music [Qujiaying · Gaoluo · Gaoqiao and Shengfang music associations] · Ⅱ-65 Zhihua Temple Jing music · Ⅱ-66 Wutai Mountain Buddhist music
  2. 2008National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage2nd batch · Ⅱ-121 shengguan music: Fuzhou double-guan music · Jianping Shiwanghui · Chaohua chuige
  3. 2008National ICH extension itemsⅡ-59 Jizhong shengguan music: twelve associations including Baimiao village · Xiongxian ancient music and Ziwei chuige