During the Spring and Autumn period, Yu Boya and Zhong Ziqi were close friends. Yu Boya loved playing the qin, and Zhong Ziqi had a remarkable talent for appreciating music, so the two often studied music together.
One day, Yu Boya heard that Master Cheng Lian's qin skills were superb and that he was the most famous qin master in the country, so he said to Zhong Ziqi, "I want to apprentice under Master Cheng Lian to learn the qin. What do you think?"
Zhong Ziqi was a great supporter of his friend Yu Boya. So Boya traveled a long distance to Master Cheng Lian's home and humbly became his student. Three years passed quickly, and Boya's playing skills improved greatly, but he still couldn't freely express his thoughts and emotions or compose new music.
One day, Master Chenglian said to Yu Boya, "Boya, you have nearly mastered my art of zither playing. I have nothing more to teach you. I have a teacher who lives on the East Sea; let me take you to seek his guidance and help you improve further."
"Wonderful, thank you so much, Master!" Boya said.
They sailed to Penglai Mountain in the East Sea. Cheng Lian helped Bo Ya ashore, saying, "I will go fetch the teacher," then rowed away alone. Left on the mountain, Bo Ya faced the vast ocean, listening to the roaring waves. Stirred by the scene, a surge of creative passion welled up within him. He set out his qin, pouring all his emotion into the strings, and composed the piece "High Mountains, Flowing Water." In that brief time, he felt his gains were immense.
Just then, Master Cheng Lian rowed the boat back to shore. Stepping onto the land, he warmly congratulated Bo Ya. Only then did Bo Ya suddenly realize—his master had deliberately left him on the shore, and the great outdoors was the finest teacher his master could have summoned.
Master Cheng Lian heard Boya's "High Mountains, Flowing Water" and said, "You are now the finest qin master in the world. You may return."
Bo Ya thanked Master Cheng Lian and returned home. Zhong Ziqi, delighted to hear of Bo Ya's successful return, came to visit and asked about his progress. Bo Ya replied, "Let me play a piece for you, and you'll know how much I've gained."
Then, Bo Ya began to play "High Mountains and Flowing Water."
When Bo Ya played the "Lofty Mountains" movements, Zhong Ziqi listened and said, "Magnificent! It's as if towering peaks stand before my eyes!" Then Bo Ya played the "Flowing Water" movements, and Zhong Ziqi exclaimed, "Wonderful! The music sounds like surging, endless rivers!"
Some days later, Zhong Ziqi unfortunately passed away. When Yu Boya learned of this tragic news, he was so grief-stricken that he smashed his beloved zither, lamenting, "My soulmate is no longer in this world—why should I still play the zither?"
Later, the idiom "High Mountains, Flowing Water" came to describe sublime music or the deep connection between soulmates.
Source: *Liezi*, Chapter "Tang Wen"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "高山流水" came to describe sublime music or the deep connection between soulmates.