林谷芳

LIN Gu-Fang is a Zen practitioner, cultural critic, and important contemporary musician in Taiwan. Born in 1950, LIN is well-known for his music from the early phase of his life. In his middle phase, he focused on cultural criticism and the construction of aesthetic theory. In the later phase, he studied Zen and drew many followers from both Taiwan and mainland China. When focusing on musical culture, he reconstructs music aesthetics, publishes music criticism, directs musical performances, and edits musical compositions. In his early phrase, his interests in art and life led him to delve into Chinese music and to research the culture and aesthetics behind pipa compositions. Many contemporary pipa performers are his pupils. He later dedicated himself to the interpretation and criticism of Chinese music. In 1996 he completed one of his most representative works, Humanity in Chinese Music, which was the first complete and systematic book on the aesthetics of Chinese music. Twenty years after it was published, the book remains a major source of cultural interpretation on both sides of the strait and is published in mainland China in the form of a classical publication. Created by LIN, the program Dialogue between Tea and Music is a series of artistic activities and performances on the same topic but presented in different formats. This program, which has continued for more than twenty years, has significantly impacted Chinese music, Teaism, and Zen. Though LIN has been active in a variety of disciplines, the basis of his work remains the construction of culture and the practice of life. This has made him an influential and significant figure in Chinese music circles on the both sides of the strait.