Did Japanese music come from China?

The Japanese have long had their own musical culture. Although the music of the early Jomon, Yayoi and Kofun eras has not been handed down, archaeological data and documents such as the Kojiki, Nihonshoki and Manyoshu compiled in the 8th century show that the Japanese had their own songs, dances and musical instruments in ancient times. The five-stringed koto is smaller than the six-stringed koto, and there are bamboo flutes, spherical stone flutes, and ceramic flutes. The drums were made of metal and pottery. Bells are made of metal, pottery and wood. Bells were used as both musical instruments and ornaments at that time. The dor was made around the 1st century B.C. The shape of the copper dor is different from that of the Chinese bell and dor. The basic types of musical instruments were already available in ancient Japan. After the beginning of the agricultural society, there were the first songs and dances by men and women, called kogaki (also known as sasara), as well as the music and dance of the witches.

Japan has a long history of musical and cultural exchanges with foreign countries, and cultural exchanges with the Asian and European continents took place mainly through Korea and China. In the early 7th century, in order to revitalize Buddhism, Prince Shotoku encouraged the introduction of music from the mainland by having Akebono of Baekje settle in Sakurai, Yamato, and teach kabuki music to Japanese youngsters (disciples of Manojou, Shinkansai Fumi, and others). Kabuki is also known as Kurenai, and is played with flutes, waist drums (also known as Kurenai drums), and cymbals. In the 7th and 8th centuries, music from the Sui and Tang dynasties in China was introduced to Japan. In 701, according to the Daiho Ritual, the Yakura Ryu was established under the administration of the Ministry of Governance, and was in charge of traditional Japanese music and dance called Waku, as well as foreign music and dance. In 752, at the opening ceremony of the Great Buddha at Todaiji Temple, hundreds of musicians and dancers from the Yakura Ryu and various temples performed traditional Japanese music and dance as well as Sankan-raku, Tang-raku, Sang-raku, Rinye-raku, and Doro-raku, and the music and dances were performed by the Yakura Ryu and hundreds of dancers from each temple. Professional musicians began to appear in Japan.