Traditional aesthetics of unity of mind and matter

This is the aesthetic thought of China's traditional music.

China's traditional music aesthetic thought is rich and colorful. The most extensive and far-reaching influence is the aesthetic thoughts of Confucianism and Taoism.

The unity of beauty and goodness is the core content of Confucian aesthetic thought. Confucian culture has always emphasized the experience of ethical spirit from people's hearts, that is, the spirit of goodness. Because music art is better at expressing people's hearts than other arts, the Confucian aesthetic view of the unity of beauty and goodness is more concentrated in the aesthetic concept of music.

Beauty is an artistic category, and goodness is a moral category. The most direct and reliable way to express the goodness that reflects moral standards through the beauty of music is the combination of music and literature-vocal music form.

Throughout the history of China's music, we will find that China's traditional music is based on such a vocal system. Almost all the ancient music in China was dominated by vocal music.