Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c11.s2.t4: Cui Lingqin
Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c11.s2.t4
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Cui Lingqin
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Cui Lingqin (8th century CE), was born between the periods of Kaiyuan and Tianbao of Tang in Boling (now in Dingzhou of Hebei province), served as Cangcaocanjun of Zuojinwu, Yuanwailang of Ministry of Rites and Guozisiye, and wrote the book of *Royal Academy Records* in 762 CE.
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Royal Academy was an ancient government office for managing the royal music governed by Taichang who was responsible for sacrificial rites and music, and it was the place gathering the court musicians. The Royal Academy was set up in the Period of Wude during the reign of Emperor Gaozu of Tang (618- second year of Kaiyuan Period during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong (714 CE) and it also expanded. Apart from the internal royal academy built in the Penglai Palace, the left royal academy and right royal academy were set up in Changan and Luoyang, respectively. They exclusively managed education, conducted rehearsal of music, singing and dancing except the gagaku, and offered songs and dances for the palace at any time. *New Tang Book • Rituals and Music* described that “In the flourishing period
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*A scene from early Tang Dynasty depicting training of running a handloom at Chang’an.*
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'Jiao fang ji', published version of Ming Dynasty
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of Tang, musicians, singers and staff belonging to the Taichang and instrument department all had posts in the institution as many as several tens of thousands,” among whom many excellent artistes came from various folk and foreign regions. Up to the period of Emperor Xuanzong, the number of musical staff reached 11,400 just in Changan city.
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Royal Academy Records recorded the systems of department, anecdotes and the contents and origins of music, as well as 324 songs including 46 omagari, which were the important documents for studying music, dance, opera and acrobatics in Tang Dynasty, especially in the early and flourishing period of Tang. When Cui Lingqin worked as Cangcaocanjun, he could hear the royal academy’s past stories directly from junior officers who served there. Therefore, the systems and anecdotes recorded in the Royal Academy Records had a high historical value. Those listed songs such as *Great Peace*, *Triumphal Music*, *Peace Music*, *South Hindustan*, *Plenilune Brahman* and *Omagari of Nishang*, *Kucha Music*, *Liangzhou*, etc came from ancient India or Kucha was influenced by Indian culture or “changed the Kucha music to be.”
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The earlier spread editions of Royal Academy Records include *On Fu* written by Tao Zongyi at the end of Yuan Dynasty and *On Hai of Ancient and Modern Times* written by Ye Luji in the middle of Ming Dynasty. In 1959, it was recorded into *Chinese Classical Opera Works Collections* by Chinese Opera Institute. In 1962, the Royal Academy Records Commentary by Ren Bantang of modern times was published by China Publishing House.
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Apart from the main body, there were also the *Royal Academy Records • Preface* recording in volume CCCXCVI of *Articles of Tang Dynasty*; *Royal Academy Records • Additional Records* recording in volume VII of *On Series* by Zeng Zao.
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(Zhao Jiazi)