Presentation: Entering the Dao through Music — From Flow to Zuowang

Explore the musical and philosophical realm of the qin and xiao through an intercultural presentation on flow, listening and the Dao. When the qin begins to sound, fingertips and intention merge, allowing the performer to enter a quiet state of flow. As the xiao fades, the listener releases the physical self and approaches what Zhuangzi describes as zuowang, or “sitting in forgetfulness.”

In this lecture, Coral Liang demonstrates these instruments live and discusses how flow arises in performance. Liang guides audiences in the art of listening, letting go of distinctions and returning to clarity through music. The program concludes with an intimate qin‑xiao concert, inviting listeners to experience what it means to enter the Dao through sound.

Special Guest Flower Arrangement Artist: Lisa Liao — Asian Cultural Heritage Exchange Association

Presented jointly by the San Francisco Public Library and the San Francisco Guqin and Xiao Music Society.

Coral Liang, Master of Education, plays the guqin and xiao. Liang begins music study at age three and later learns the Chinese bamboo flute at age six. Liang has studied xiao, guqin, erhu and guzheng, and has more than 20 years of performance experience. Liang has received awards at competitions in China and internationally. Liang is a cultural educator and performer dedicated to preserving and sharing traditional Chinese arts through music and education. In recent years, Liang and collaborators establish the San Francisco Guqin and Xiao Music Society, a nonprofit organization focused on promoting Chinese traditional culture. The group serves the San Francisco community through music education, concerts, lectures and cultural festivals.

琴聲起，指尖與心意合一，演奏者悄然進入心流；簫聲落，聽者忘卻形骸，步入莊子所言「坐忘」之境。 

本場講座，主講人 Coral Liang 以琴簫現場演示，剖析心流生起的機理，並親授聆聽之法，引導聽眾在樂聲中放下分別、回歸澄明。 

講座之後，一場小型琴簫音樂會，讓身心在弦管之間，真正體會以樂入道。 

特邀嘉賓：插花表演 Lisa Liao 亞洲文化遺產交流協會 

本活動由三藩市總圖書館和三藩市琴簫協會合辦  

Coral Liang 教育學碩士,  從三歲接受音樂啟蒙，六歲開始學習中國竹笛，她的主奏樂器是簫和古琴。除此之外，她曾先後系統學習過二胡，古箏等中西方樂器。她有將近二十多年的表演經驗，獲得很多獎項。近年來，她與朋友們創立了三藩市琴簫協會，主要通過舉辦音樂會，雅集，室內教育講座及參加室外音樂節來宣傳推廣中國傳統音樂和文化。