Performers › Musicians
Guo Mian
Southern Song qin master from Yongjia, regarded as founder of the Zhe school of qin playing and traditionally credited with Xiaoxiang Shuiyun.
On a flat rock above a waterfall, a seven-string zither and a bamboo flute lie on a spread of blue-green cloth; beyond, a waterfall pours into a churning teal pool among misty peaks, with pine branches arching at the top left.
Also known as Guo Chuwang
Guo Mian, styled Chuwang, came from Yongjia (modern Wenzhou). His dates are unknown; he became known for his qin playing in the Qingyuan and Jiatai eras and is regarded as the founder of the Zhe school. In the Jiatai and Kaixi years he lived as a guest of Zhang Yan in Lin'an, taught him Wu Ye Ti, and with him compiled a fifteen-juan qin collection from the scores of Han Tuozhou's household and from popular sources. After Han's killing in 1207 and Zhang's dismissal he moved to Hengzhou and lived in poverty. Tradition holds that he wrote Xiaoxiang Shuiyun while boating on the Xiao and Xiang rivers; Qiu Hong, Fei Ming Yin and Fan Canglang are also attributed to him.
Life and times
Dates Dates unknown; active in the Southern Song, c. 1195–1207