推出push-out
Pinyin: tuī chū
Left hand, pressingThe middle finger, stopping string one, pushes the string outward off the fingertip to sound the open string.
How it is played
Mostly on string one: with the middle finger stopping the string, push it toward the outer edge of the instrument (away from the player) with the firm part between the middle and end joints, so the string slips off the finger and sounds. The old handbooks say string one mostly uses the push-out and the other strings dai qi. Keep the motion discreet, leaving no trace.
How it sounds
The open note of string one.
In the classical handbooks
中指專司者也。惟第一絃上用之。Gist: The province of the middle finger alone. Used only on the first string.
Where sources disagree
Whether it is limited to the middle finger and to string one
- The middle finger's province, used only on string one. Source: Qinxue Rumen (Introduction to Qin Studies), vol. 1, left-hand pressing symbols(opens in a new window) · View the original page
- The middle finger stops the string and pushes it out beyond the string's line to sound it; used only on string one, other strings use dai qi. Source: Chengjiantang Qinpu（据Guoqinwang, Guqin Da Cidian (Great Dictionary of the Guqin)所录原文）(opens in a new window)
- Pushing the string outward to sound it is called tui chu; no finger or string is specified. Source: Taiyin Daquanji (as transcribed by John Thompson)(opens in a new window)
- Annotated “string one, beyond the first hui”, that is, pushed out beyond the first hui. Source: 《藏春坞琴谱》（据Guoqinwang, Guqin Da Cidian (Great Dictionary of the Guqin)所录原文）(opens in a new window)
Easily confused with
- 带起dài qǐ· ring-finger pull-off to the open stringDai qi is the ring finger hooking the string toward the palm; tui chu is the middle finger pushing string one outward. Both give the open note.
References
- 管平湖《古指法考》（北京古琴文化研究会 编，中国书店出版社 2019；据 1963 年中国音乐研究所油印本整理，依《琴用指法》《乌丝栏》《太音大全》《琴书大全》考订古指法）Scholarship
- 颐和琴社《减字谱·指法符号简释》(opens in a new window)Qin community
- 国琴网《古琴大辞典·指法》「推出」条(opens in a new window)Qin community