Confucius, the first social philosopher of China, is thought to have lived around 2,500 years ago and made significant contributions to the fields of arts and culture, especially for revitalising traditional music. Chinese that will endure for a very long time. He was a talented musician who was regarded as an outstanding music educator. Additionally, we find the meaning and significance of music as well as the benefits of high-quality music in Confucius’ teachings.
There is little doubt that music served primarily as a form of amusement for various cultures around the world. Nevertheless, music played a significant role as a fundamental pillar of civilisation during the Zhou Dynasty (about 500 BC and afterwards).
In several major books of Confucius (Analects 论语 Lún Yǔ), the Canon of Poems (诗经 Shī Jīng) and the Book of Rites (礼记 Lǐjì), the author defines how to create and use music. The teachings make an essential contribution to the understanding of traditional music.
“To educate someone, you must begin with poetry, value ceremonies, and end with music” – Confucius
The knowledge of music was a matter of higher education. He believed that of the six most important disciplines to study, learning music was second only to studying rituals or public ceremonies. He placed music above the other four essential subjects (archery, chariot driving, calligraphy and writing, arithmetic and mathematics).
Rites and Rituals
Music was important because the “ideal society” was governed by rites, rituals, and ceremonies rather than by law or raw power. Music contributed to good behaviour and control in a culture where people acted according to rituals and ceremonies. As a result, it no longer intervened in a playful manner. The musicians, on the other hand, saw it as a means of achieving political and social goals. Ultimately, music became a process for improving social ties and societal harmony.
The characteristics of good Chinese traditional music
In order to establish well-being and to initiate good rules of conduct, there was undoubtedly a need for music, generally simplistic, which brings serenity, and which promotes appropriate conduct in a ceremonial context. The instruments had to be played in an exemplary way like a model parading in an impeccable outfit.
In the performance of official duties, in order to obtain proper consideration of authority and optimum attention from the audience, the music should have a “magnificent introduction,” be “harmonious” and “clear” with simple articulation. , and be “continues without a hitch.” This form of aestheticism will influence China during the last two millennia.
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General aspects of Chinese traditional music
The Grand Entrance
Generally speaking, traditional musicians follow Confucian doctrine. In order to execute the grand and “magnificent” entry of musical pieces advocated by Confucius, the musicians of an orchestra or ensemble often begin with a grand anthology, each playing their instrument simultaneously for a short time (or even a few seconds) or by loudly sounding a gong or a drum. This sequence marks the beginning of the piece and aims to capture the full attention of the audience.
This introduction also allows you to discover the instruments that will accompany the musical extract.
Frequently, it happens that a musician, in solo, plays one or more noisy notes in an impromptu way to signal the beginning of his piece.
Technical finesse
After completing the large entry of the piece, the musicians in an ensemble gradually reduce the sound intensity towards the middle of the piece. This allows the audience to appreciate each musician’s technical ability. The volume rises again near the end of the piece, reaching a climax at the moment of the finale.
Traditional music perfectly emphasises the purity of each note of an instrument. On the other hand, it places less emphasis on rhythm and Western-style harmonies.
Pentatonic scale
Most traditional elite music used the ancient Chinese pentatonic scale. This one adapts well to the realization of simple harmonies, probably aiming to maintain the rules of sobriety and clarity advocated by Confucius. In contrast, Western-style music employs a heptatonic scale allowing the production of more complex harmonies with the use of electric musical instruments.
A distinctive instrument like the flute or the erhu played with a traditional approach based on passion and a very precise meaning is perhaps the most pleasing to the “Western” ear. Westerners frequently find that this type of music is calming and helpful for meditation.
On the other hand, some Westerners may perceive huge ensembles or orchestras made up of a wide range of traditional musical instruments as resonating discordantly since they anticipate more harmony from such interpretations. The Chinese pentatonic scale was designed with specific sound frequencies that may have appeared cacophonous to an inexperienced ear.
Go on without a hitch
Unlike Western or African music, traditional Chinese music places less importance on rhythm or tempo, making it unsuitable for dancing or contortion of any kind. This is in order to avoid creating, in the audience, any sexual urges or other inappropriate sensual bodily behaviors. Indeed, as Confucius taught, beautiful and respectable music aims primarily to promote social tranquility.
As part of the activities carried out during official ceremonies, music is used to regulate the behavior of people so that they perform the chosen rites and blindly follow the orders of higher authority.
The Grand Final
In accordance with the thought of Confucius who wanted music to be ‘continuous without obstacles’, traditional music, in general, does not have a clear break in tempo.
However, instead of a sustained steady tempo, many pieces of music are characterized by a continuous tempo but with a smooth and continuous acceleration, until the grand finale. This evocation of the river which acquires power in its descent often symbolizes the rhythm of traditional Chinese music.
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The three types of Chinese traditional music
You will be able to discover in the following text, the three main types of traditional music most listened to nowadays by the population, namely:
Chinese opera music linked to theatrical performances,
The music of orchestras or ensembles adapted to a cultured audience and enlightened amateurs
Solo instrumental performances
Chinese opera music tends to heighten the visual effects, acting, and lyricism of the play. However, pieces of traditional Chinese music in orchestra or solo are usually intended to appease passions and stifle agitation.
Chinese opera music
According to Chinese belief, traditional music purifies the soul or even the mind more so than it serves any amusing purposes. On the other hand, contemporary Chinese opera music is intended to be entertaining. There are currently several major varieties of Chinese opera, but without a question, Peking opera and Sichuan opera are the most well-known.
A small ensemble, often made up of seven musicians, is positioned at one end of the stage. The more experienced players among them can play their score off memory because they are so familiar with it.
Among the musical instruments used, we find the erhu and other stringed instruments, wooden clappers, gongs, cymbals and, finally, wind instruments. The main function of stringed instruments is to accompany songs. Nevertheless, they can be used in the realization of specific sound effects such as, in particular, those of animals.
Orchestras and traditional musical ensembles
Some large orchestras or musical ensembles still play many pieces of traditional music. Nowadays, it sometimes happens that Chinese musicians combine modern and Western musical styles. Also, the instruments can be modified or made using modern materials to fit the criteria of Western music.
Non-traditional instruments like the piano can also be used to perform traditional music. Although it bears little resemblance to the music played 200 years earlier, it will still intrigue audiences from the West with the differences in style and sound compared to Western orchestral music.
Solo instrumental performances
In Chinese art, solo instrumental performance has traditionally dominated. The intellectuals were expected to be accomplished artists, thus they had to be perfect at a number of instruments. A considerable deal of musical discipline was necessary for this kind of success, one that was as subtle as the recital of poetry and music, which was pleasing in its own abstract elegance.
8 CHINESE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
What are Chinese instruments? What is their history and are they still used today?
The guzheng, the Chinese pipa, the erhu or the Chinese flute, all these instruments have participated in the evolution of music in China, whether through theater, opera or independent artists.
GUZHENG 古筝
[caption id="attachment_346038" align="alignnone" width="612"] GUZHENG Chinese traditional music Chinese musical instrument Chinese Zen music[/caption]
The guzheng is an instrument that you have probably already seen in videos or in films as the music it produces is pleasant. It is also known as the Chinese zither. The history of this plucked string instrument goes back more than 2500 years.
This rather imposing instrument usually has between 21 and 26 strings. The object is 1.60 m long.
The oldest discovered model of Guzheng dates from around 500 BC. J.-C., and would have been created during the period of the seven warring states.
When playing Guzheng, we often wear “spikes” at the end of the fingers, made of plastic, ivory or resin on one or both hands. This simply makes it easier to catch the ropes.
It often happens that the Guzheng is confused with another instrument called the Guqin, but this one is actually much smaller: it is played without trestles and has only 7 strings.
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PIPA 琵琶
[caption id="attachment_346039" align="alignnone" width="612"] PIPA Chinese traditional music Chinese musical instrument Chinese Zen music[/caption]
The Chinese pipa is also a plucked string instrument, but this one only has 4 strings. It is sometimes nicknamed the Chinese lute. The body of the instrument is made of a single piece of wood, and its number of frets can vary from 12 to 26. This instrument is one of the oldest in China, it has been used for over 2000 years, but remains the one of the most appreciated still today.
The neck is short, the body is pear-shaped, it generally measures around 1m10, 3 feet and 5 inches to be precise.
This instrument is very symbolic in China. Its three feet represent heaven, earth and man, its height (five inches as seen previously) represents wood, fire, water, metal and earth. Finally, its four strings represent the four seasons.
The instrument is held upright on its legs in a seated position. To play, you pluck the strings with one hand, while pressing the strings with the other hand.
The pipa was played as a solo instrument or as part of an ensemble in imperial households and scholars often played it as part of their personal development.
In China, we no longer count the number of music and stories linked to this instrument in art. One of the most common stories is this:
A woman, named Wang Zhaojun (王昭君), was described as one of the most beautiful women in the kingdom. It is said that Wang had to travel north to marry a nomadic ruler. So she left her hometown on horseback. On the road, the woman was extremely sad and unable to control her emotions. So she started playing sad melodies on a string instrument. A flock of geese flying south heard the music, saw the young woman on the horse, forgot to flap their wings and fell to the ground. From then on, Zhaojun acquired the nickname “fallen geese” or “fallen birds”. Later, the melody she played in the saddle was considered: Zhaojun’s lament (昭君怨) and the stringed instrument was commonly represented as a pipa.
There is also a poem called Pipa xing (琵琶行) which is also very well known in China. It was written by a famous poet called Bai Juyi. This one offers us a pipa performance during a chance encounter with a female pipa player on the Yangtze River. The best-known phrases from this poem describe the sound of the pipa:
“The fat strings rattled like sudden splashes of rain, the fine strings hummed like the whispers of lovers, like pearls, large and small, falling on a jade plate. »
Today there are many models of this instrument, traditional models in bamboo but also more modern models in polymer. The instrument measures about 40 cm.
The hulusi has a very pure and very soft sound, comparable to that of a clarinet. It was originally used primarily in Yunnan Province by a number of ethnic minority groups, and has gained popularity throughout China.
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Guqin 古琴
[caption id="attachment_346040" align="alignnone" width="612"] GUQIN Chinese traditional music Chinese musical instrument Chinese Zen music[/caption]
The guqin is a seven-string plucked Chinese musical instrument from the zither family. It can also be called qixian-qin or seven-string zither (七弦琴). Similar to the guzheng above, it has also been played since ancient times and has traditionally been favored by scholars and scholars as an instrument of great subtlety and refinement, as well as being associated with the ancient philosopher Chinese Confucius. The Chinese sometimes call it “the father of Chinese music” or “the instrument of the wise”.
Guqins are a very popular type of wooden stringed instrument, like its cousin Guzheng. It consists of a resonator below (pierced with two holes of different sizes), a soundboard above and seven silk strings.
The guqins are not designed just anyhow: they are 3.65 Chinese feet long, which represents the 365 days of the year. In addition, the thirteen uprights of the soundboard represent the thirteen lunar cycles of the year.
To play this instrument, it is placed on a table and played by plucking the strings.
Guqins are often played solo and you will see them used in civic and religious ceremonies.
Many scholars used these instruments in their contemplations and even Confucius was considered an excellent guqin player.
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DIZI 笛子
[caption id="attachment_346044" align="alignnone" width="612"] DIZI Chinese traditional music Chinese musical instrument Chinese Zen music[/caption]
The dizi is a Chinese transverse flute. He is sometimes nicknamed di (笛) or héngdi (横笛). There are many varieties of this instrument, such as the qǔdi (曲笛) and the bāngdi (梆笛).
It is a major Chinese musical instrument that is widely used in many genres of Chinese folk music, from Chinese opera to modern Chinese orchestra. The dizi has also been a popular instrument since time immemorial because it is simple to make and easy to transport.
Traditionally, this instrument is made with a straight piece of bamboo. The length depends on the type of pitch you want (the longer the instrument, the lower the pitch). There are Dizi made of other materials, such as stone or even jade, but these are more sought after for their beauty than the sound they provide.
The Dizi generally has six finger holes, but there are models with more holes. To play, simply blow into the mouthpiece and hold the flute horizontally.
There are many Dizi players who produce solo performances, but it is not uncommon to find them in operas.
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HULUSI 葫芦丝
[caption id="attachment_346046" align="alignnone" width="612"] HULUSI Chinese traditional music Chinese musical instrument Chinese Zen music[/caption]
The hulusi is a very original Chinese wind instrument. Unlike the Dizi, it is held vertically and has three bamboo pipes that pass through a calabash windchest; the center pipe has finger holes and the outer two are typically bourdon pipes.
Today there are many models of this instrument, traditional models in bamboo but also more modern models in polymer. The instrument measures about 40 cm.
The hulusi has a very pure and very soft sound, comparable to that of a clarinet. It was originally used primarily in Yunnan Province by a number of ethnic minority groups, and has gained popularity throughout China.
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ERHU 二胡
[caption id="attachment_346048" align="alignnone" width="612"] ERHU Chinese Traditional Music download Chinese musical instrument Chinese Zen music[/caption]
The erhu is a two-string bowed instrument. The instrument is made in two parts: the neck and the body. For the handle, it is made of hard and round wood. The body is a hexagonal wooden sound box, with snakeskin on the front and a carved wooden screen on the back.
The whole rests traditionally on a red velvet cushion. In the Western world, it is often called the Chinese fiddle or the Chinese two-string fiddle.
Erhus stand vertically and are quite similar to cellos in the way they are played. What differs between cellos and Erhu are the number of strings (4 for the cello, 2 for the Erhu) and the archer of the Erhu which is made of bamboo.
The bow is moved over the strings, while the other hand is used to stop the strings in three to four hand positions.
Unlike a violin or a cello, the strings of the Erhu cannot be pressed against the fretboard.
The Erhus are generally used in operas and within regional ensembles. They are often found at tea houses, weddings, and on television and radio.
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THE XIAO 箫
[caption id="attachment_346049" align="alignnone" width="612"] XIAO Chinese Traditional Music download Chinese musical instrument Chinese Zen music[/caption]
It is a vertical Chinese flute in which one blows at the end. Traditionally made of bamboo, it generally has 6 or 8 holes and can vary in size depending on the desired pitch. There are also 2 holes for chords.
Its origin dates back to ancient times, more than 3000 years ago. The Qiang ethnic group is said to be the origin of this bamboo flute. They were living in southwestern China at the time.
The xiao is a very calm instrument, which can be played alone or in a group with other instruments. It is the perfect instrument for playing music.
In Chinese culture, it is said that the sound of the xiao is the same as the cry of the phoenix, the king of birds.
A very famous melody titled “Autumn Moon on the Calm Lake” represents the beauty of the xiao very well.
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THE GONG 锣
[caption id="attachment_346050" align="alignnone" width="612"] Gongs Chinese Traditional Music download Chinese musical instrument Chinese Zen music[/caption]
The Chinese gong is a large circular metal disc that is a type of percussion similar to a cymbal.
It is played by striking it with a mallet to produce sounds of different intensity.
Gongs are used in orchestras, traditional dances and religious ceremonies.
There are three types of traditional Chinese gongs:
The tom-toms are, without boss, slightly convex. They are made of forged bronze and come in different sizes. They feature a slight depression around the edge, with a raised middle section, and are played from suspended metal frames.
Daluos are different because they are made from copper, zinc and tin alloys. They have a folded edge, which can accommodate a rope handle, a slightly convex shape, and are associated with warriors and officials.
The xiaoluo is a smaller version of the daluo. They are struck with an unpadded mallet and are used to represent women and scholars.
Chinese Traditional Music download about Zen, Meditation & Relax
[caption id="attachment_346047" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Chinese traditional music for well guide Chinese musical instrument Chinese Zen music[/caption]]]>
GUZHENG Chinese traditional music Chinese musical instrument Chinese Zen music[/caption]
The guzheng is an instrument that you have probably already seen in videos or in films as the music it produces is pleasant. It is also known as the Chinese zither. The history of this plucked string instrument goes back more than 2500 years.
This rather imposing instrument usually has between 21 and 26 strings. The object is 1.60 m long.
The oldest discovered model of Guzheng dates from around 500 BC. J.-C., and would have been created during the period of the seven warring states.
When playing Guzheng, we often wear “spikes” at the end of the fingers, made of plastic, ivory or resin on one or both hands. This simply makes it easier to catch the ropes.
It often happens that the Guzheng is confused with another instrument called the Guqin, but this one is actually much smaller: it is played without trestles and has only 7 strings.
Chinese Traditional Music download about Zen, Meditation & Relax
PIPA Chinese traditional music Chinese musical instrument Chinese Zen music[/caption]
The Chinese pipa is also a plucked string instrument, but this one only has 4 strings. It is sometimes nicknamed the Chinese lute. The body of the instrument is made of a single piece of wood, and its number of frets can vary from 12 to 26. This instrument is one of the oldest in China, it has been used for over 2000 years, but remains the one of the most appreciated still today.
The neck is short, the body is pear-shaped, it generally measures around 1m10, 3 feet and 5 inches to be precise.
This instrument is very symbolic in China. Its three feet represent heaven, earth and man, its height (five inches as seen previously) represents wood, fire, water, metal and earth. Finally, its four strings represent the four seasons.
The instrument is held upright on its legs in a seated position. To play, you pluck the strings with one hand, while pressing the strings with the other hand.
The pipa was played as a solo instrument or as part of an ensemble in imperial households and scholars often played it as part of their personal development.
In China, we no longer count the number of music and stories linked to this instrument in art. One of the most common stories is this:
A woman, named Wang Zhaojun (王昭君), was described as one of the most beautiful women in the kingdom. It is said that Wang had to travel north to marry a nomadic ruler. So she left her hometown on horseback. On the road, the woman was extremely sad and unable to control her emotions. So she started playing sad melodies on a string instrument. A flock of geese flying south heard the music, saw the young woman on the horse, forgot to flap their wings and fell to the ground. From then on, Zhaojun acquired the nickname “fallen geese” or “fallen birds”. Later, the melody she played in the saddle was considered: Zhaojun’s lament (昭君怨) and the stringed instrument was commonly represented as a pipa.
There is also a poem called Pipa xing (琵琶行) which is also very well known in China. It was written by a famous poet called Bai Juyi. This one offers us a pipa performance during a chance encounter with a female pipa player on the Yangtze River. The best-known phrases from this poem describe the sound of the pipa:
“The fat strings rattled like sudden splashes of rain, the fine strings hummed like the whispers of lovers, like pearls, large and small, falling on a jade plate. »
Today there are many models of this instrument, traditional models in bamboo but also more modern models in polymer. The instrument measures about 40 cm.
The hulusi has a very pure and very soft sound, comparable to that of a clarinet. It was originally used primarily in Yunnan Province by a number of ethnic minority groups, and has gained popularity throughout China.
Chinese Traditional Music download about Zen, Meditation & Relax
GUQIN Chinese traditional music Chinese musical instrument Chinese Zen music[/caption]
The guqin is a seven-string plucked Chinese musical instrument from the zither family. It can also be called qixian-qin or seven-string zither (七弦琴). Similar to the guzheng above, it has also been played since ancient times and has traditionally been favored by scholars and scholars as an instrument of great subtlety and refinement, as well as being associated with the ancient philosopher Chinese Confucius. The Chinese sometimes call it “the father of Chinese music” or “the instrument of the wise”.
Guqins are a very popular type of wooden stringed instrument, like its cousin Guzheng. It consists of a resonator below (pierced with two holes of different sizes), a soundboard above and seven silk strings.
The guqins are not designed just anyhow: they are 3.65 Chinese feet long, which represents the 365 days of the year. In addition, the thirteen uprights of the soundboard represent the thirteen lunar cycles of the year.
To play this instrument, it is placed on a table and played by plucking the strings.
Guqins are often played solo and you will see them used in civic and religious ceremonies.
Many scholars used these instruments in their contemplations and even Confucius was considered an excellent guqin player.
Chinese Traditional Music download about Zen, Meditation & Relax
DIZI Chinese traditional music Chinese musical instrument Chinese Zen music[/caption]
The dizi is a Chinese transverse flute. He is sometimes nicknamed di (笛) or héngdi (横笛). There are many varieties of this instrument, such as the qǔdi (曲笛) and the bāngdi (梆笛).
It is a major Chinese musical instrument that is widely used in many genres of Chinese folk music, from Chinese opera to modern Chinese orchestra. The dizi has also been a popular instrument since time immemorial because it is simple to make and easy to transport.
Traditionally, this instrument is made with a straight piece of bamboo. The length depends on the type of pitch you want (the longer the instrument, the lower the pitch). There are Dizi made of other materials, such as stone or even jade, but these are more sought after for their beauty than the sound they provide.
The Dizi generally has six finger holes, but there are models with more holes. To play, simply blow into the mouthpiece and hold the flute horizontally.
There are many Dizi players who produce solo performances, but it is not uncommon to find them in operas.
Chinese Traditional Music download about Zen, Meditation & Relax
HULUSI Chinese traditional music Chinese musical instrument Chinese Zen music[/caption]
The hulusi is a very original Chinese wind instrument. Unlike the Dizi, it is held vertically and has three bamboo pipes that pass through a calabash windchest; the center pipe has finger holes and the outer two are typically bourdon pipes.
Today there are many models of this instrument, traditional models in bamboo but also more modern models in polymer. The instrument measures about 40 cm.
The hulusi has a very pure and very soft sound, comparable to that of a clarinet. It was originally used primarily in Yunnan Province by a number of ethnic minority groups, and has gained popularity throughout China.
Chinese Traditional Music download about Zen, Meditation & Relax
ERHU Chinese Traditional Music download Chinese musical instrument Chinese Zen music[/caption]
The erhu is a two-string bowed instrument. The instrument is made in two parts: the neck and the body. For the handle, it is made of hard and round wood. The body is a hexagonal wooden sound box, with snakeskin on the front and a carved wooden screen on the back.
The whole rests traditionally on a red velvet cushion. In the Western world, it is often called the Chinese fiddle or the Chinese two-string fiddle.
Erhus stand vertically and are quite similar to cellos in the way they are played. What differs between cellos and Erhu are the number of strings (4 for the cello, 2 for the Erhu) and the archer of the Erhu which is made of bamboo.
The bow is moved over the strings, while the other hand is used to stop the strings in three to four hand positions.
Unlike a violin or a cello, the strings of the Erhu cannot be pressed against the fretboard.
The Erhus are generally used in operas and within regional ensembles. They are often found at tea houses, weddings, and on television and radio.
Chinese Traditional Music download about Zen, Meditation & Relax
XIAO Chinese Traditional Music download Chinese musical instrument Chinese Zen music[/caption]
It is a vertical Chinese flute in which one blows at the end. Traditionally made of bamboo, it generally has 6 or 8 holes and can vary in size depending on the desired pitch. There are also 2 holes for chords.
Its origin dates back to ancient times, more than 3000 years ago. The Qiang ethnic group is said to be the origin of this bamboo flute. They were living in southwestern China at the time.
The xiao is a very calm instrument, which can be played alone or in a group with other instruments. It is the perfect instrument for playing music.
In Chinese culture, it is said that the sound of the xiao is the same as the cry of the phoenix, the king of birds.
A very famous melody titled “Autumn Moon on the Calm Lake” represents the beauty of the xiao very well.
Chinese Traditional Music download about Zen, Meditation & Relax
Gongs Chinese Traditional Music download Chinese musical instrument Chinese Zen music[/caption]
The Chinese gong is a large circular metal disc that is a type of percussion similar to a cymbal.
It is played by striking it with a mallet to produce sounds of different intensity.
Gongs are used in orchestras, traditional dances and religious ceremonies.
There are three types of traditional Chinese gongs:
The tom-toms are, without boss, slightly convex. They are made of forged bronze and come in different sizes. They feature a slight depression around the edge, with a raised middle section, and are played from suspended metal frames.
Daluos are different because they are made from copper, zinc and tin alloys. They have a folded edge, which can accommodate a rope handle, a slightly convex shape, and are associated with warriors and officials.
The xiaoluo is a smaller version of the daluo. They are struck with an unpadded mallet and are used to represent women and scholars.
Chinese Traditional Music download about Zen, Meditation & Relax
[caption id="attachment_346047" align="alignnone" width="1000"]
Chinese traditional music for well guide Chinese musical instrument Chinese Zen music[/caption]]]>
