The five tones in ancient music refer to "Gong, Shang, Jiao, Zheng, and Yu", and the five elements are assigned to "earth, metal, wood, fire, and water."

The "Book of Rites" records: "Gongyin" represents the emperor and the commander of "Zhongyin", "Shangyin" represents the ministers, "Jiaoyin" represents the common people, "Zhengyin" represents political affairs, and "Yuyin" Represents all things.

“If the five are not chaotic, there will be no chì discordant sound.”

The chaos of “Gong Yin” means that the monarch is arrogant and extravagant; “Shang Yin” "Chaos means that the ministers below are committing crimes against their superiors; chaos in "Jiaoyin" means the people's resentment boils over; chaos in "Zhengyin" means sorrow and trouble; chaos in "Yuyin" means a lack of wealth and national danger.

A harmonious and complete tune starts with "Gong Yin", is composed of "Jiao, Zheng and Yu Yin" in the middle, and ends with "Shang Yin". This kind of music symbolizes the emperor's leadership of civil and military officials. Officials, with the people as the core, perform their duties, so that the country can prosper.

"Tan Bin Lu" records: In the first month of the first year of the Shenlong year of Wu Zetian (AD 705), a spring sacrificial ceremony was held in the Ancestral Temple of Xijing. After Taiyue ordered Pei Zhigu to listen carefully to the band's performance, he quietly asked the minister Yuan, who was proficient in music, to Xing Chong said: "The harmony of gold and stone should be auspicious. Are they descendants of the Tang Dynasty?"