How did ancient Chinese musical instruments develop?

Overview The history of ancient Chinese musical instruments can be divided into four development periods: 1. The ancient period (about 6000 BC - 1711 BC): According to the existing unearthed objects, wind instruments were the earliest musical instruments to appear, with Wuyang, Henan

The bone flute is the oldest.

During this period, many percussion instruments were also unearthed. Among the stringed instruments found in classics is the "harp", but no actual objects have been unearthed. The musical instruments in ancient times were mainly used as accompaniments for hunting and singing and dancing.

2. Pre-Qin period (711 BC - 256 BC): This was the first peak in the history of the development of musical instruments in my country, and the classification of musical instruments - "Eight Tones" - was established.

The guqin appeared at this time and soon became a very important solo instrument.

The musical instruments of this period were mainly percussion instruments. The unearthed objects were the bells of Marquis Yi of Zeng that had the greatest influence. The music was also represented by bells and drums.

3. Qin, Han, Sui and Tang Dynasties (221 BC - 960 AD): This was the heyday of the development history of musical instruments in my country. With the exchange of Chinese and foreign cultures, a large number of foreign musical instruments were introduced into our country, and playing instruments achieved unprecedented development. and prosperity.

The Tang Dynasty was the peak of the development of musical instruments in my country. Guqin music scores appeared. The extant "Youlan" handed down by Qiu Ming (494-590) is the earliest guqin music score in my country.

In the late Tang Dynasty, Cao Rou created simplified notation, which preserved Guqin music.

The pipa was the most important musical instrument in the Tang Dynasty, and the music was also represented by court Yan music.

Stringed instruments began to appear among the people.

4. Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties (960-1840): The most important thing during this period was the development of bowed string instruments. The introduction and widespread use of bowed string instruments promoted the development of opera and rap music.

Guqin has many schools, and the dulcimer was introduced from Persia in the late Ming Dynasty.

The suona, a wind instrument, appeared in the Yuan Dynasty, and the gong, a percussion instrument, appeared in the Yuan Dynasty. During this period, court music gradually declined and was replaced by folk music.