Music of China

The music of China is a vast collection of distinct traditions. These traditions often originate from the country's many different ethnic groups. It involves traditional Chinese instruments and unique music theory. It also uses the various languages spoken across China. This musical landscape includes classical forms and indigenous folk music. It also encompasses recorded popular music and styles inspired by Western culture. Today, Chinese music remains rooted in history while participating in a global culture.

Archaeological evidence shows that music culture in China is incredibly old. Excavations in Jiahu Village in Henan found bone flutes dated to 9,000 years ago.

Researchers also found clay instruments called xun at the Hemudu and Banpo sites. These clay instruments are thought to be 7,000 years old. According to mythology, a figure named Ling Lun founded Chinese music. At the request of the Yellow Emperor, he created bamboo pipes. These pipes were tuned to the sounds of birds, including the phoenix. This led to a twelve-tone musical system. The first pipe produced the 'yellow bell' pitch. This system eventually led to the creation of sets of tuned bells.

During the Zhou dynasty (1122–257 BC), a formal system was established. This system was called yayue, which means "elegant music." It was used for court and ceremonial purposes. In ancient China, the word for music, yue, also referred to dance. Music and dance were considered an integral, inseparable part of a whole. The word for dance also extended to poetry and other rituals. The most important music of this period was the Six-dynasty Music Dance. This was performed during rituals in the royal court.

Music in the Zhou dynasty was tied to the natural world. It was seen as a manifestation of the sounds of nature. This was integrated into the binary order of yin and yang. This concept has influenced Chinese musical thinking for many centuries. "Correct" music required instruments that correlated to the five elements of nature. This was believed to bring harmony to the natural world. Around the 7th century BC, a pentatonic scale was derived. This was created using a cycle-of-fifths theory. Philosophers held many different views on these sounds. Confucius believed music was vital for the refinement of an individual. He viewed yayue as morally uplifting and a symbol of stable government. However, the philosopher Mozi argued that music was an extravagance. He believed it served no useful purpose and could be harmful.

Imperial China saw the creation of official musical institutions. The Imperial Music Bureau was first established during the Qin dynasty (221–207 BC). Emperor Han Wudi later expanded this bureau under the Han dynasty. The bureau supervised court and military music. It also determined which folk music would be officially recognized. Over time, traditions from Central Asia influenced Chinese music. This included elements of Indian music. For example, the pipa was adopted from Central Asian origins. In the 6th century, a musician named Sujiva introduced the Indian heptatonic scale. Although this scale was later abandoned, it shows how much ideas traveled.

Western musical influences arrived in stages over several centuries. A Jesuit priest named Matteo Ricci presented a harpsichord to the Ming court in 1601. During the Republican era (1912–1949), the New Culture Movement increased interest in Western music. Many musicians studied abroad and returned to perform Western classical works. They began using Western musical notation systems. In Shanghai, a new genre called shidaiqu emerged in the 1920s. Li Jinhui is considered the founder of this fusion genre. Shidaiqu combined Chinese and Western popular music styles. Famous singers of this era included Zhou Xuan and Li Xianglan.

The mid-twentieth century brought significant political changes to music. After 1942, the Communist Party launched campaigns to adapt folk music. These songs were used to educate rural populations on party goals. Traditional songs were sometimes given new harmonies and bass lines. One famous example is "The East Is Red," a folk song from northern Shaanxi. This song was adapted into a nationalist hymn. The composer Xian Xinghai wrote the well-known "Yellow River Cantata" during this time. Following the revolution in 1949, revolutionary songs were heavily promoted by the state. During the Cultural Revolution, this genre became the only acceptable form of music. This period largely overshadowed other musical styles in mainland China.

Modern Chinese music is a diverse and evolving field. In the 1980s, the Northwest Wind style emerged as a fast-tempo response to protests. This eventually led to the rise of Chinese rock in the 1990s. While the government controls much of the media, rock remains a notable genre. Large events like the Midi Modern Music Festival attract tens of thousands of people. Rock music is currently centered in cities like Beijing and Shanghai. Today, the musical landscape continues to balance ancient heritage with modern global trends.