Historical origin of shakuhachi

The shakuhachi originated in China and flourished in Sui and Tang Dynasties. It evolved from Qiangdi in Han Dynasty and was introduced to Japan by monks in Southern Song Dynasty, becoming one of the representative instruments of Japanese classical music.

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Japanese classical music is a unique art form with a long history and rich cultural connotation. It originated from the religious and court music traditions in ancient Japan, and gradually formed its unique style and characteristics in the long development process.

Ancient Japanese music can be traced back to Asuka in the 7th century. Buddhism and Taoism introduced from China at that time influenced japanese pop and made it develop continuously. During the Asuka and Nara periods, court music was widely used in religious ceremonies and court activities. These types of music are usually called "gagaku" and are played by specific bands, including musicians, dancers and singers.

Heian period (794-1 185) is an important stage in the development of Japanese classical music. During this period, court music was not only widely used in the court, but also began to affect the lives of nobles and literati. At this time, a new form of music appeared, which was called "elegant music" or "court music".

This kind of music includes elements such as court dance, instrumental performance and poetry reading. The most famous court music is "Yayue Band", which is played by a group of musicians. They use various musical instruments, such as Zheng, Zhang, Sheng, flute and so on.

Since heian period, Japanese court music has been developing under the influence of China's music, and gradually formed a unique Japanese style. During this period, a traditional court dance music form called "Bole" appeared, which was characterized by slow rhythm and exquisite dance movements. In addition, "romantic music" is a form of folk music, which was popular from the late heian period to the Kamakura era. Usually performed by folk artists, with song and dance as the main form of expression.

The Kamakura era (1 185-1333) was an important period of Japanese classical music, when a musical form called "Nenglie" appeared. Nenglie is a performing art that combines elements of music, dance and drama, and usually takes religious stories and historical legends as the theme.

The musical features of energy are slow rhythm, repeated curves and harmony. At the same time, the Kamakura era was also the golden age of Japanese poetry development, and the prevailing chorus form had a far-reaching impact on court music.

In the Muramachi era (1336-1573), Japanese classical music continued to develop in colorful ways. During this period, more diverse musical forms appeared, such as "Qin Le" and "Early Music". Qin Le is a musical form with guzheng as the main instrument, with superb playing skills and soft timbre. Shakuhachi music is a musical form with shakuhachi (bamboo flute) as the main instrument, which has unique timbre and expressive force.

The edo period (1603-1868) is another important development stage of Japanese classical music. During this period, folk music began to merge with court music, forming a new style called "Edo Music". Edo music includes shaman music, helper music and folk songs, among which shaman music is the most famous. Shaman music is a musical form with Taigu as the main instrument, which is usually used for celebrations and sacrificial activities.

With the process of modernization, Japanese classical music has gradually declined, but it still retains important historical and cultural values. Today, people can learn and appreciate this ancient and exquisite art form through professional music groups and schools. In addition, some modern musicians also integrate traditional music elements into contemporary music, which makes classical music have a new influence in contemporary society.

Generally speaking, Japanese classical music has experienced several centuries of evolution and development, forming a unique musical style and performance form. It not only reflects the ancient Japanese culture and belief, but also shows the infinite charm of human creativity and aesthetic pursuit. By inheriting and developing classical music, we can better understand Japanese traditional culture and leave valuable cultural heritage for future generations.