During the Warring States period, the state of Chu had a famous literary figure named Song Yu, who was said to be a student of the great poet Qu Yuan. Serving King Qingxiang of Chu, Song Yu often engaged in discussions with the king on various topics.
Once, King Xiang of Chu said to Song Yu, "Some people are quite dissatisfied with you and are gossiping about your faults behind your back. Is there something improper about your conduct?" Song Yu replied without hesitation, "Well, yes, that is the case. Please forgive my offense, Your Majesty, and allow me to finish what I have to say."
Song Yu was skilled in rhetoric and eloquent speech. Instead of directly answering King Xiang of Chu's question, he told a story to convey his meaning.
A visitor once came to the capital of Chu, Ying (northwest of present-day Jiangling County, Hubei), to sing. He began with popular folk songs like *Xiali* and *Baren*, and thousands in the city joined in. Then he sang the slightly more refined *Yang'e* and *Xielu*, and only a few hundred followed. Next came the elegant *Yangchun* and *Baixue*, with just dozens joining. Finally, he performed the sophisticated shang, yu, and zhi modes, and only a handful of people could sing along.
Song Yu mentioned Shang, Yu, and Zhi, all ancient Chinese musical notes. At that time, Gong, Shang, Jue, Zhi, and Yu were the five notes, corresponding to 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 in modern numbered musical notation. He then summarized by saying:
“Thus it can be seen, the more refined the tune, the fewer who can join in singing it.” King Xiang of Chu listened and nodded slightly.
Song Yu was also skilled at using analogies to explain his views. Feeling he hadn't fully expressed himself, he used animal behavior as a metaphor:
Among birds, there is the phoenix, and among fish, there is the giant kun. The phoenix soars nine thousand li high, piercing the clouds, carrying the blue sky on its back, and spreading its wings beyond the heavens. How can the little birds that flutter among the hedges measure the height of the sky with it? As for the kun, it sets out from Mount Kunlun at dawn, rests its fins by the sea at midday, and sleeps in a vast inland lake by night. How can the tiny fish swimming in shallow ponds measure the depth of rivers and seas with it?
Finally, Song Yu concluded:
“Thus, just as there are phoenixes among birds and kun fish among fish, there are also extraordinary figures among men who resemble the phoenix and the kun. Sages possess remarkable thoughts and actions, surpassing ordinary people. How could those common folk ever understand my deeds?”
The idiom "High Art, Few Followers" comes from this story. It originally means the more refined the melody, the fewer people can sing along, symbolizing how rare true understanding is. Today, it also describes speech or writing that is too esoteric for most to grasp.
Source: *Reply to the King of Chu*
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "曲高和寡" came to describe how the more refined the melody, the fewer people can sing along, symbolizing how rare true understanding is.