While this is one of the most ancient of guqin tunes, it is also one of the most popular in today’s repertoire. Wine Madness 酒狂 dates from the third century and is attributed to the poet Ruan Ji 阮籍, who was one of the seven sages of Bamboo Grove. His father, Ruan Yu 阮瑀, studied qin as well and served under the famous official Cao Cao 曹操 of the Three Kingdoms. Ruan Ji himself tried to avoid public office.
The triplet rhythm is an interpretation of Yao Bingyan 姚丙炎 when he transcribed it from the original tablature, which was without rhythm indication.
Many versions exist, but the basic lyrics are evocative of scholarly refinement, where the literary class drink in a different manner than those of the drunken masses. “The whole world’s drunk, all except me. Give me a brew, from strife I’m free.”
1. 天地鴻茫
白駒世事笑奔忙，悄悄憂心空斷腸。
何以解憂？曰杜康，醺醺鎮日任疏狂。
百年三萬六千場，會須一飲三百觴。
陶陶那樂，入醉的那鄉；
醒而後醉，醉而的那狂。入山大事頓相忘。
2. 醉舞飛仙
天有酒星地酒泉；杖頭常掛百文錢。
池酒糟丘是所歡，飄飄醉舞；
恍疑羽化，
羽化而登其仙。酒中得道真暢然。
3. 浩歌天地
換酒不惜千金裘，相酌能消萬古愁。
香醪百斝襟懷放，浩歌一曲興悠悠。
宇宙間樂，無過的那酒；
酒中那趣，真罕的那有，果然嘯傲輕王侯。
4. 嗜酒形骸
白酒初熟紫蟹肥，呼朋拉伴共啣杯。
或樂山兮或樂水，不知人世；
更有理亂，
理亂及安與危。玉山自倒非人推。
5. 花牋草掃
醉後斗酒詩百篇，龍蛇體格染銀箋。
長安那市，酒家的那眠；
天子宣呼，不上的那船。自稱臣是酒中僊。
6. 低低吐酒
吐酒山翁聲款款，功名富貴無心戀。
劉伶、畢桌與陶潛，清風高節，
此身不服，
不服天宮的管；相與枕藉共留連。
7. 托酒徉狂
舉世皆醉，我也獨醒；托意麴蘗，期遠禍疹。
豈誠湎沉眈飲，蹈荒淫，作醉人。
古來多少顯達皆寂寞，惟有飲者留其名。
醉翁之意，端不在乎酒