• DOI:10.2307/850355
• Corpus ID: 160016226

Prince Chu Tsai-Yu's Life and Work: A Re-Evaluation of His Contribution to Equal Temperament Theory

@article{Kuttner1975PrinceCT,
  title={Prince Chu Tsai-Yu's Life and Work: A Re-Evaluation of His Contribution to Equal Temperament Theory},
  author={Fritz A. toim. Kuttner},
  journal={Ethnomusicology},
  year={1975},
  volume={19},
  pages={163}
}

• F. Kuttner
• Published 1 May 1975
• History
• Ethnomusicology

In Western accounts of Chinese musical history Chu Tsai-yii1 is one of the most frequently mentioned personalities, but unfortunately very few facts have been accurately reported about this eminent musical historian and theorist who flourished toward the end of the 16th century. Since so far there exist no published translations in Western languages of his many writings, it seems desirable to present the most important data of his work and life, particularly because some of his achievements may have had a profound and lasting influence on certain musical developments in Europe. For Chu Tsai-yu has frequently been credited by respectable authors with what is usually called "the invention of equal temperament." As we shall see, this claim cannot be considered correct without major qualifications, depending on the point of view one takes. It has also been stated with somewhat emotional emphasis that the Prince's contribution to music theory represents "the crowning achievement of China's two millennia of acoustical experiment and research" (Robinson 1962:224). Since the achievements of these two millennia, as we have come to realize in the last twenty years, have been magnificent in many respects, I must express doubts as to the justification of that second claim. More justified, I believe, would be the conclusion that Chu was one of the most important historians of his nation's music. Chu was born in 1536 in Ho-nei, Honan Province, into a family of high aristocratic standing. He was a descendant, in the sixth generation, of Hung Hsi, the fourth emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). His father Chu Hou-huan was hereditary Prince of Cheng. Hence, in Western literary sources our scholar is usually referred to as Prince Chu (a title which should be rendered in German as Furst, not as Prinz). As will be seen below, it is questionable whether the princely title should always be added to the family name.