Refining the Heavens 4 (炼天四)

Chapter 5: The Dance Hall

There were many different courses:

The four main academic arts - Instrument, chess, literature, and painting.

The four secondary academic arts - conversation, dance, song, and hosting.

All of them were researched and studied with extreme focus.

Over here, martial strength is unnecessary. With a good head and a gilded tongue, one could reach the top of the world.

"The four main academic arts and the four secondary academic arts, all of them are important. However, there are sequence to everything," the instructor for the basic lesson said.

Alan and the rest nodded their head and listened. The four were the only students in the class, but the instructor continued seriously.

"Qin (琴), the musical instrument is placed first because in music, one's composition cannot be hidden. Refined or coarse, honest or phoney, passionate or indifferent, a single play will reveal everything about you and a strum can stir emotions in others.

Qi (棋), the game of war is placed second.

Within it one can learn the great affairs of kingdoms. It can determine the future in the movement of marble pebbles.

Shu (书), calligraphy and poems, it expresses one's character and true nature.

In the brush you can mark your thoughts and influence many with few words.

Hua (画), painting is the greatest measure of one's creativity.

It can show both realistic and abstract view of the world. By viewing a painted scroll often, your target can gain great compassion or descend into madness."

It may only be an introductory course, but the importance of the four main arts were greatly imprinted on them. The instructor took a breath then continued to the next part.

"The secondary arts are secondary only because they are skills that everyone could learn, whereas the main arts belong to the rich. However, do not think little of them, they are not less important.

Tan (谈), the art of the words is the head of the secondary arts.

Its importance I do not need to explain. A person can have no background, real skills, or martial prowess but simply through the way of the words he will be invincible under the heavens.

Wu (舞), art of movement.

The way to carry oneself is a show of status. One can mingle into the upper echelons or mix with commoners with the correct steps. Never underestimate its importance, many movement techniques are learned through dance and show.

Ge (歌), art of the voice.

It is arguably the sub-branch of two main arts. A mixture of Qin and Hua.

When used properly it can send soldiers to their deaths or pacify an angry crowd.

Dai (待), the art of entertaining and ceremonies. It is a vast study that includes tea making, flower arrangement, cutlery etiquette, and other life skills to make one feel welcomed.

In the simplest of tasks and the smallest details, you will forge your character through repeating the mundane. When you master this, you can be a prince while wearing rags, an emperor while working for others."

The things they need to learn in this place are far too extensive and it requires a certain amount of talent to pick up.

However, they could tell the Dance Hall's importance and the value of the books in its vaults. Kairos excused himself to the library while the rest went through the different lessons.