Li Shutong founded China's first music publication, "Music Little Magazine," during his study in Japan. He was responsible for almost everything from design, illustration, translation, writing, to typesetting. He adapted a biography of Beethoven based on Ishikura Kosaburo's "History of Western Music"; translated Tamura Tokuzō's "Summary of Modern Music Theory," and the publication featured charcoal drawings of Beethoven, songs like "My Country," "Spring Outing," and "Willows by the Sui Dike" (lyrics), expressing nostalgia for his homeland and concern for people's livelihoods through "school songs." He was a pioneer in combining Western music with Chinese culture and a founder of music education and "school song" creation in China.
Li Shutong was a modern enlightenment musician and songwriter. Modern music originated mostly from "school songs" that used foreign scores with Chinese lyrics, and Li Shutong was an important author of "school songs." He wrote nearly a hundred musical works with lyrics and selected music. Most of the songs included in "Fifty Chinese Famous Songs," co-edited by Feng Zikai and Qiu Menghen, were composed by Li Shutong between 1912 and 1918. Once published, the songbook was selected as teaching material by schools across the country and reprinted ten times, becoming one of the longest-circulating and best-selling teaching song collections in modern China. After becoming a monk, although he focused on studying and promoting Buddhism, he still accepted invitations to create patriotic songs under the guidance of the idea of "not forgetting to save the country while chanting Buddha's name." His works from this period were compiled into "Cool Song Collection," published by Shanghai Enlightenment Bookstore in 1936.
Teiban student Li Guangping (Li Shutong)
Li Shutong's song "Evening Song" was sung after school, so it is sometimes also called "Rest Song." Because the song mentions schoolwork, it is also referred to as "Study Song." "Evening Song" is actually a "school song" with a history of over a hundred years. As early as the beginning of the 20th century, "school songs" were popular all over China, and "Evening Song" was one of the most famous "school songs."
In 1901, Nanyang Public School began preparing to establish a special economic class to "cultivate the pillars of the country." Li Shutong, known for his "twenty articles that shocked the nation," came to take the exam and was admitted in the first batch among a group of outstanding candidates. That year, Li Shutong was 21 years old, and he changed his original name "Li Wentao" to "Li Guangping." During his time at Nanyang Public School, the walls of Li Shutong's room were covered with books and paintings, and he had exceptional talent and accomplishments in books, paintings, seal carving, poetry, and music.
In 1902, the "Ink Bottle Incident" occurred at Nanyang Public School, leading some students to withdraw. After Li Shutong dropped out, he felt quite depressed and, sensing the prevailing despondency and lack of public spirit, discussed with friends Xu Huanyuan and Huang Yanpei to establish the "Shanghai Study Association." They set up remedial classes and held lectures, focusing on ideological enlightenment and advocating for social reform. Li Shutong believed that music could "cultivate morality, promote social health, refine character, and inspire the beauty of spirit." "Evening Song" is one of the results of Li Shutong's educational reform; his initial idea was to write a school dismissal song for the "Shanghai Study Association's remedial class," which unexpectedly became widely sung across the country.
The melody of the song is derived from the folk tune "Lao Liu Ban," which was popular nationwide at the time. The melody is deep and broad, with each word pronounced clearly and naturally. "Time flows like water, and soon the class is over. Let's think carefully, have we understood today's lessons? Did the teacher's words go against our understanding? Parents hope for their children to return, so let us not linger on the way. In the future, governing the country and bringing peace to the world relies on our generation. Everyone, let's work hard! Classmates, see you tomorrow." Singing this song, one can envision scenes of sunset, evening glow, youth, and song... melodious and beautiful. More importantly, the grand theme of "governing the country and bringing peace to the world" is cleverly embedded in the moving melody, subtly influencing listeners, truly "nurturing things quietly." It has a strong sense of identity and spreadability. Before the War of Resistance, many schools taught this song, which was well-received by students and parents.
In 1915, while teaching at Hangzhou First Normal School, Li Shutong wrote "Farewell" — "Outside the long pavilion, by the ancient road, fragrant grass stretches to the sky. The evening breeze brushes the willows, and the sound of the flute lingers, the setting sun beyond the mountains. A thousand threads of emotion, a cup of wine, the sound of the departing flute urges us to part. I ask you, when will you return? Do not linger on your way..." This belongs to Li Shutong's early creation of "school songs." The lyrics are written in classical poetry style, rich and elegant, with profound meaning. The melody is taken from the American song "I Dream of Home and Mother," composed by John P. Ordway. During his stay in Japan, the Japanese lyricist Inudō Kyūsuke used the melody of "I Dream of Home and Mother" to write a song called "Traveling Sorrow." From 1905 to 1910, while studying in Japan, Li Shutong encountered "Traveling Sorrow," and he was inspired by the beautiful melody of this song.
The movie "Old Stories from the South of the City"
This song is said to be dedicated to his close friend Xu Huanyuan, but this has not been confirmed. It conveys Li Shutong's farewell to friends, his insights into life, and his realization of transcending worldly attachments. Therefore, it is not just a farewell song between friends; it is also a "prelude" to Li Shutong's impending departure from the world and renunciation of secular life. "Farewell" was first published in "Fifty Chinese Famous Songs," co-edited by Qiu Menghen and Li Shutong's student Feng Zikai. This book includes 13 songs written or composed by Li Shutong. It was published by Enlightenment Bookstore in August 1927. The lyrics in this book are handwritten rather than printed. The writer is Feng Zikai.
This song has been sung for decades and remains popular, becoming a classic. It has appeared multiple times in the film adaptation of Lin Haiyin's original work, "Old Stories from the South of the City," with its mournful and beautiful melody lingering on. Using the melody of this song to enhance the film's historical atmosphere inevitably evokes sadness and nostalgia in viewers.
"Remembering Childhood"
Spring goes and autumn comes, time flows like a river, the wanderer feels the pain of drifting.
Recalling childhood, playing at home, the scene seems like yesterday.
A thatched cottage with three beams, an old plum tree, hiding and seeking under the tree.
Birds singing on high branches, fish swimming in the brook, once entrusted to danger.
Childhood joy, this joy cannot be replicated.
Childhood joy, this joy cannot be replicated.
Another song by Li Shutong that has been passed down is "Remembering Childhood," regarded as a sister piece to "Farewell." The lyrics were written by Li Shutong, and the music comes from William S. Hayes, also influenced by Inudō Kyūsuke's "The Abandoned House of My Hometown." This "Remembering Childhood" originally used the American folk song "My Sunny Old Home"; the composer is William S. Hayes. The smooth and gentle melody carries a hint of sadness, and it has been covered by many singers.
Looking at the bright lake, six bridges lock the mist and water.
The shadows of the pagoda are uneven, and painted boats come and go.
Two rows of drooping willows, green dyeing the long embankment.
The clear wind rises, and the flute's melody gently begins.
Looking at the green mountains all around, the peaks align north and south.
The mountain colors are hazy, with bamboo and wood charmingly graceful.
Exploring ancient caves in the mist and haze, emeralds brush the eyebrows.
In the evening rain, the bell sounds from outside the forest.
Such beautiful mountains and lakes, uniquely possessing natural beauty.
The bright lake is boundless, with green mountains piled up.
The shimmering sunlight ripples, bringing a mysterious color of rain.
Beautifully adorned, comparable to Xi Shi, all shades are perfectly suited.
The lyrics of "West Lake," written by Li Shutong, still use a Western original melody, composed by Scottish composer Mackenzie. In the 28th year of the Guangxu era (1902), Li Shutong went to Hangzhou to participate in the provincial examination, but he only stayed in Hangzhou for about a month and had only a brief glimpse of the West Lake scenery. In the autumn of 1912, after he began teaching at Zhejiang First Normal School, the situation changed; he lived in Hangzhou for ten years, and the water and mountains of West Lake infused him with more inspiration.
The beautiful scenery of West Lake
This "West Lake" is clearly a song that Li Shutong taught in school, and it is also a three-part choral piece of certain difficulty. Feng Zikai recalled that he sang as a tenor, and the classroom atmosphere was very lively. Li Shutong borrowed some lines from ancient poets, such as Su Dongpo, in writing these lyrics, but the entire poem is a cohesive whole, a heartfelt praise of Hangzhou's West Lake from him.
Viewing fish at Flower Harbor