What does music mean?

Etiquette and music Ancient emperors often used rites and music as a means to achieve the goal of orderly rule.

The system of rites and music originated in the Western Zhou Dynasty. Together with the feudal system and patriarchal clan system, it constituted the whole social system in ancient China, which had a great influence on politics, culture, art and thought of later generations.

The ritual and music system is divided into two parts. The ritual part mainly divides people's identity and social norms, and finally forms a hierarchical system. The music part is mainly based on the hierarchy of rites, and uses music to alleviate social contradictions.

The origin of rites and music

During the Western Zhou Dynasty, Zhou enfeoffed the world, and many vassal states were enfeoffed to maintain his orderly rule centered on Zhou. Zhou Wenwang's fourth son, Zhou Wuwang's younger brother Zhou Gongdan, initiated the system of rites and music, namely Zhou Li.

As the political and living standard of aristocrats at all levels, Zhou Li became an indispensable tool to maintain the patriarchal clan system. During this period, the system of rites and music developed and perfected, which laid the foundation for the traditional culture of China.

During the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, the royal family of the Zhou Dynasty weakened, the princes competed for hegemony, and the system of rites and music collapsed, which led to a serious impact on Confucius, the founder of Confucianism, and made it his lifelong pursuit to restore the system of rites and music in the Western Zhou Dynasty.

Rites and music in the Zhou Dynasty were used as a tool to maintain the patriarchal clan system of the Zhou Dynasty, forming a unique system, culture and civilization of rites and music in the Zhou Dynasty, which had a great and far-reaching impact on the social development of China in later generations.