During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, readers who are waiting to learn Chinese in China can discover that the tonal patterns of the operas and Sanqu are different between the north and the south; the tones in the south are called south tones, and the ones in the north are called north tones.
To learn study Chinese in China, It should be noticed that although both the northern and southern tones were originated from the Tang and Song Dynasties, and are both in the form of the tune forms of the Song iambic Poems and Zhugongdiao (a style of songs prevalent in the 11th century). It is important for musicians when you want to study Mandarin in China that the variation of tonal patterns of the southern and northern lie in many aspects, namely the pitch of voices, the form of strong and light beats, and the singing styles as well as in the main accompaniment instruments.
However, it is hard for foreign students when they learn Chinese in China to tell which one is better, since bother the variation of tonal patterns in the north and south of China are quite distinctive and enjoys their own wondrous and peculiar characteristics.
We would like to talk about the first variation, namely, the pitch of voices (variation of tonal patterns), which it is not difficult for readers to discover when you study Chinese in China. As to the form of expression of the vocal music of tones, the southern operas are more melodious and fluent, while the northern operas are more plain and fervent.
As can be seen by foreign friends when you come to study Mandarin in China that the dramatist of the Ming Dynasty had pointed out the tonal differentiations like this, talking about the variation of tonal patterns; the southern tunes are more exalted, smooth and beautiful, while the northern tunes are fervent and plain. Another quotation to be shared with readers to learn Chinese in China is from Xuwei of the Ming Dynasty, who says that the hearing of the northern tunes make people courageous and aggressive, while the southern tunes which are soft, gentle and indirect make audiences feel treading on air unconsciously.
The Wang Shizeng of the Ming Dynasty had also mentioned in his work “Quzao” that as to the variation of tonal patterns, the articulation of the lyrics in the north are plenty and fast, while the lyrics articulated in tunes are few and slow, and the of the northern tunes are rich in sentimental lyrics, while scarce in touching melodies, while the southern tunes are rich in touching melodies and scarce in the sentimental lyrics when you hear them if you’d been to study Chinese in China.
The Great Master of Qu , Wei Liangfu had also agreed the understandings of Wang Shizeng while brought forward his own understandings on the variation of tonal patterns, in his opinion, the northern tunes feature the powerful and vigorous, while the tunes in the southern part of China typified by the characteristics of mild and indirect.
During the Ming Dynasty, there were a great variety of statements about the variation of tonal patterns in the southern and northern part of China; it is not hard for students to find them when they study Mandarin in China, there are several other sayings apart from the ones mentioned above. Readers who are interested in Chinese music and would like to learn Chinese in China may be curious about Xu Fuzuo, who had mentioned in his work the tunes of the south feel like to be performed by the young girls, singing clearly up to the beats.
Therefore, it can be seen by foreign scholars who’d been to study Chinese in China that that most of the tunes in the south are tactful and melodic; while the tunes in the north resembles are military ambassador leading his armed troops to go forward, as well as the running waters flowing eastward, which should be direct and solid.
At the same time, Wang Jide commented like this: “the northern and southern tunes should be classified in this way; the northern ones are elevated, while the southern ones are graceful and feminine”. It is also understandable for people who are interested about going abroad to study Mandarin in China that the causes of this type of variations probably lie in the different living environment and the folkways.