What are the main characteristics of ancient Chinese music aesthetics?

One of the main features of ancient Chinese music aesthetics is that it requires music to be governed by rites and become ritual music

Confucius revered "the way of the late king" in politics, advocated "governance by virtue", advocated "the rule of rites", and emphasized the political role of music, and emphasized that music can morally touch people (the social function of music), He emphasized the political role of rites and music, and stressed that music can morally touch people (the social function of music). He once said: "There is nothing better than music to change customs and habits, and there is nothing better than ritual to govern the people. Confucius recognized that music has ideology and artistry, and evaluated musicians on the basis of "goodness" and "beauty"; those who are in line with the so-called benevolence and virtue are considered good, and those who show peace and moderation are considered beautiful, forming one of the earliest musical aesthetic standards in human history. The music of "Shao", which glorifies Shun's virtues, is regarded as a perfect art, and "Dawu", which expresses King Wu's conquest of the Zhou Dynasty, is regarded as a perfect art. Confucius believed that musicians could reflect people's pain and joy, but they must be emotionally restrained and should not go beyond the Middle Way of reasoning. Emphasizing the unity of form and content, Confucius promoted the elegant music of "music without obscenity, decline without injury", and disliked the passionate and unrestrained or rebellious folk music of "Zheng Wei's voice", "the evil of Zheng's voice is disruptive". "Wicked Zheng sound of chaos and elegance", with the political prejudice of the feudal ruling class.

Secondly, "neutral" and "light and" as the criterion, in order to calm and quiet as the beauty

To "neutral" and "light and" as the criterion, in order to calm and quiet as the beauty

To "neutral" and "light and" as the criterion, in order to calm and quiet as the beauty

To "neutral and" a "light and The sound is required to be "neutral and peaceful", without excesses or shortcomings. In the criticism of music content and art form, the "goodness" and "harmony" of the content are put in the first place, while the beauty of the art form is put in the second place. Traditional Chinese music aesthetics centered on "harmony" has had a profound influence on the development of musicians in China, and on the other hand, the musician's art is regarded as a way to know the truth and the best of life.

Three The pursuit of the "unity of heaven and man", the pursuit of interpersonal relations, the harmony and unity of the relationship between heaven and man

As early as the Spring and Autumn Period, the idea that music is through the heavens and people, and the demand for peace and harmony of music to make interpersonal relations reconciled, the unity of the world's relationship with the world has already arisen. The most famous arguments in the Records of Music, such as "feeling is moved by things, so it is shaped by sound" (which had already taken shape in the Spring and Autumn Annals of Lu Shi), had a great influence on the whole art and aesthetics (including literature and poetic theory) in China later on. The Records of Music elaborated on the content and form of music, as well as on the relationship between beauty and goodness. It was a further development of Confucius' theory of "perfection and beauty". It mentioned for the first time the relationship between music and speech, arguing that music is the continuation, processing and extension of speech, and that singing originates from people's need to fully express their thoughts and feelings.

From the philosophical, ethical, and political perspectives, music is mostly discussed

Focusing on the study of the external relationship of music, emphasizing the connection between music and politics, and stressing the social function and edification of music, but less in-depth on the internal aspects of music, and not enough attention is paid to the law of music itself, the specificity of music, and the role of music as aesthetic and entertainment, which is the case with the Confucianism and the Taoism.