We, the New York Qin Society, here announce our establishment. Ancient music disappeared much, and the original sound of the qin is lost. During the Yin and Zhou Dynasties, the qin first appeared. After the Spring and Autumn Period, cultivation in the qin has became a tradition. Between the Han and Jin Dynasties, the qin began to transform physically. Around the Tang and Song Dynasties, qin music gradually vanished. However, since the Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, in these three hundred years, the study of the qin started to flourish. In the Republic, qin gatherings became a popular pursuit all over the country. Throughout history, these qin players all highly treasured their art form. They hand wrote or printed out their manuscripts, to pass on to later generations.

The nature of the qin is to befriend nature - springs, rocks, smoke and clouds, or to retreat and hide in the mountains and forests. It remains in harmony with the sounds of nature, or it may allow its performer to express any emotions and ambitions. Beautiful ancient music is thus appreciated in the company of oneself, just as beautiful flowers require just one to adore. As a result, the transmission of qin music has been very limited. But today, in China, there are numerous qin societies established everywhere. Many gentlemen made popular and expressed their ambitions for the dissemination of qin culture. One sees this through the many newly published qin manuscripts, sound and video recordings. Those who are aware of the qin is growing, and those who study the qin is increasing in number as well. In the history of the qin, this kind of popularity never preceded.

We admire and treasure the essences of Chinese heritage. Residing overseas, regardless of race, we center on the qin dao and secondarily, focus on the anthropological arts. We adopt this qin tradition in a new geographical area and research on the similarities and differences of the West and China. We ask for the voice of friendship from those who we have not made acquaintance of, but who we share the same mindset with.

We have stretched our strings and tuned our pegs for over two years. The outcome of the Spring harvest cannot be foreseen, but it is now time to plow hard. Although we are ten thousand miles away from the spiritual land of Shengzhou, we have the same strength of mind. Searching for pure music and an elegant mode, we pick up once more the lost music of the past.

Please do not be ashamed of us trying to stand together with those of who are well-established and more qualified. We can more or less gain some tradition and accurate spirit. Although we have "no strings under our fingers", we understand the joy of the qin. Today's sound and that of the ancients have gone on different paths, but eventually, they will culminate at one point. The Chinese and the West, at two different realms, are harmonized at the heart. For everyone who is the same as us, we will pick a flower, light incense and make a wish.

These are our words. Thank you for your encouragement and appreciation.

Yours truly,

Alan J. Berkowitz, Peiyou Chang, Stephen Dydo, Matthew Flannery, Holly Grinnell, Bunching Lam, Bo Lawergren, John Thompson, Marilyn Wong-Gleysteen, Mingmei Yip, Jung-Ping Yuan

October 15, 2002

Agreement