The Water and Clouds of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers (瀟湘水雲) was composed by Guo Mian (郭沔, c. 1190–1260). He was a qin player from coastal Zhejiang (浙江), and I’d find out that he and my wife share the same ancestral hometown of Yongjia, Wenzhou (温州市永嘉县). As a famed guqin player in his day, he organized a group of guqin players Hangzhou (杭州), where coincidentally, my wife completed medical school at Zhejiang University.
During the reign of Emperor LiZong (宋理宗, 1224–1264) in the late Song Dynasty, as the regime was nearing demise from the northern invaders who would later establish the Yuan Dynasty, Guo Mian retreated south to the Chu region (楚). The serene beauty of this area captured him. Aware that the state of affairs was deteriorating, he moved here to take in the views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers. These rivers evoke wistfulness, and it is associated with the legendary ruler and his two daughters in Lament by the Xiang River (湘江怨), one of the earliest guqin melodies I learned. To the south lie the JiuYi Mountains (九嶷山), where fog and clouds often sometimes roll.
One guqin handbook’s preface recounts that Guo Mian wrote this piece about the lofty mountains and the clouds interplaying with the waters of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers.
I played this piece on a restored guqin fitted with silk strings. Special thanks to Jonathan Davidson for taking video footage and mastering the audio.
Listen to the light mist and fog.
Marvel as rain gives way to boundless scenery.
Squint at bright sunlight casting shadows of the clouds.
Watch the water and sky become one on the horizon.
Feel the roiling waters as winds whip the clouds.
Nestle near the cold river and gaze on the chilly moon.
Travel ten thousand miles upon the rippling waves.
Reflect the expansive landscape, all like a painting.