Draft of the History of Ancient Chinese Music, Volume 1 and Volume 2

Author: Yang Yinliu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1981-02-01
Features: This book is divided into two volumes: Volume 1 covers the period from ancient times to the Song Dynasty, while Volume 2 covers the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Regarding musical examples. Most of the ancient musical works that have survived to this day have undergone a complex process of long-term collective creation and refinement. They have continuously evolved alongside changes in social conditions and the shifting demands of the people for culture. The forms in which they have survived today are the result of long-term collective refinement. They are connected to their original creative forms but also distinct from them. Because of the connection, we can use them as examples of ancient works. Because of the distinction, we must also estimate the changes they have undergone over time when referencing these examples. Regarding pictorial examples. While pictorial examples are concrete and vivid, we still cannot demand absolute precision from them. Whether in painting, sculpture, or stone carving, there are different schools and styles among the various artists who created them. Even the same artist may use different techniques in different works for different purposes. Sometimes they may use bold lines to convey an active expression, intentionally altering details for realism. At other times, they may use close-up techniques to meticulously depict a few individuals, representing a large instrumental ensemble. Therefore, when referencing pictorial examples, we must consider these artistic characteristics and understand them by comparing and contrasting them with other sources.