Traditional Chinese Music, Chinese Classical Music, Chinese Songs

China has a long and influential musical tradition. Over the centuries, musicians developed various styles of music and invented or adopted many types of instruments. The classical traditional music of the elites, the folk and ethnic and the favorites Traditional Chinese Instrument are “keynotes” for appreciating Chinese traditional music in general and enjoying it more!

Music was so important because the ideal society was to be governed by rites, ritual and ceremonial functions, but not by law or raw power. In a culture where people function according to ritual and ceremony, music is used to help conduct and govern them. So music wasn’t really entertainment, but a means for musicians to accomplish political and social goals. Music was ultimately a means for optimizing social utility or happiness.

So to establish peace and initiate proper conduct, it was important that the music be generally simple, induce tranquility, and facilitate the appropriate conduct in the ceremonial context. The instruments should be played with correct technique as a model for proper behavior. In official functions, to produce the proper respect for the authority and an optimal audience response, music should have a “magnificent beginning,” be “harmonic” and “clear,” have an easy structure, and be “smoothly continuous.” His aesthetic standard for music has influenced China in the last two millenniums.

 Sources:

China Highlight