Reflection, Representation, and Unity: The Role of Music in
Ancient China from the Zhou Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty 
(1046 BCE to 907 AD)

Jiahe Zhu

doi:10.70711/rcha.v3i6.7603

Reflection, Representation, and Unity: The Role of Music in Ancient China from the Zhou Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty (1046 BCE to 907 AD)

Jiahe Zhu

Abstract

This paper explores the continuously evolving role of music in association with the larger Chinese society from the Zhou dynasty
to the Tang dynasty. The papers main argument pinpoints the fact that, within the context of Ancient China, the role of music possesses
two layers. First, music consistently served as a reflection for peoples emotional experiences and the larger society across the entire time
frame being assessed in this paper. However, starting from the Warring States Period, music began to develop another function: a social
unifier that connected one individual to another. In essence, music is a significant historical entity that carries valuable insight into the
early Chinese civilization.

Keywords

Music; Ancient China; Society; Emotional expression; Historical reflection

Full Text:

PDF

Included Database

References

[1] Li, Feng. "Feudalism and Western Zhou of China: A Criticism." Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies 63, no. 1 (June 2003): 115-144. ht-

tps://www.jstor.org/stable/25066693.

[2] Shi, Zhongwen, and Xiaowen Hu. The Complete History of China in a Hundred Volumes: The literary history of the Warring States Period. Chinese Book Publishing House, 2011.

[3] Jennings, William. Shijing: the Old "Poetry Classic" of the Chinese. London George Routledge and Sons, 1891.

[4] Tavor, Ori. "Coping with Social Trauma in Ancient China: The Healing Power of Meditation, Ritual, and Music." Coping Rituals in

Fearful Times 1, no. 1 (March 2022): 65-76. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-81534-9_4.

[5] Watson, Burton. Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press, 2007.

[6] "Yongzhong." ca. 5th - 3th century BCE. Bronze Bell, H. 24 in. (61 cm); W. 10 1/8 in. (25.7 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art,

New York.

[7] Yang, Yingliu. A Draft History of Ancient Chinese Music. Peoples Music Publishing House, 1980.

[8] Brindley, Erica. Music, Cosmology, and the Politics of Harmony in Early China. State University of New York Press, 2012.

[9] Shi, Jianzhong. Ancient Chinese History:Volume 2. Beijing Normal University Press, 1996.

[10] Duan, Anjie. Miscellaneous Records of Yuefu. Shanghai Classics Publishing House 1986.

[11] Bu, Yuanjun. "The Chinese Folk Dance on the Silk Road during High Tang Dynasty Period." ??????????????, ???????????? ?

???????? ????????? ????? ????? ? ?????????? ????????? ? ??????? ?????? 1, no. 1 (April 2019): 164 - 175. https://www.

ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=829557.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.70711/rcha.v3i6.7603

Refbacks

There are currently no refbacks.