Chinese traditional music is divided into four parts in academic circles, namely court music, religious music, literati music and folk music.

1. Court music:

It is generally believed that after the end of the Qing Dynasty in 1912, court music withdrew from the stage of history; but Tian Qing believes that in fact, court music began to exist in the middle and late Qing Dynasty. It has become a decoration, as can be seen from the golden chimes stored in the Forbidden City Treasure Hall.

The golden chime bell, a symbol of ritual utensils, cannot produce any music at all. In addition, in a broad sense, court music also includes ritual music such as the music dedicated to Confucius in the Confucius Temple, and this part of music still continues today.

2. Religious music

Religious music in ancient my country mainly includes Buddhist music and Taoist music. Different religious musics learn from each other and influence each other, and there are many overlapping and similar parts.

In modern times, with the decline of Buddhism and Taoism, Buddhist music and Taoist music also gradually declined. The religious music stored in Zhihua Temple in Beijing, including music scores, musical instruments, and musical monks, can be regarded as a typical representative of religious music in my country. At present, the music of Zhihua Temple has been rated as a national intangible cultural heritage.

3. Literati music

The real literati music is actually only Guqin music. Guqin, also known as Qin, Yaoqin, Yuqin, Sitong and Lyre, is a plucked string instrument in China and the main instrument used by ancient literati and officials for musical activities. There is even a saying of "left Qin and right handwriting".

In modern times, with the disappearance of this class, literati music represented by guqin music has almost disappeared. In the 1950s, the Music Research Institute of the China Academy of Arts conducted a nationwide census. At that time, there were less than 100 people who could play the guqin among the country's 600 million people. Therefore, literati music has declined most seriously compared to other traditional music.

However, "there is no way out despite the mountains and rivers, and there is another village with bright flowers and dark willows." After Guqin was successfully declared a UNESCO Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2003, Guqin music has ushered in a new world in the new century.

4. Folk music

Folk music can be divided into two categories: folk songs and national musical instruments. Many so-called folk songs on the modern stage should be accurately described as "national style compositions." ". Real folk songs come from the bottom and generally have no specific creators. They are passed down from generation to generation and word of mouth. They most truly express the joys and sorrows of the people, especially the people at the bottom.

Extended information:

The current situation of traditional music

As a part of traditional culture, Chinese traditional music has suffered the same fate as traditional culture in the past century. Tian Qing said that Chinese music once influenced the whole of Asia. Japan and South Korea have retained it to this day, but in China it has gradually declined or even been forgotten.

In the current field of music education, Western music completely occupies a dominant position, and most traditional Chinese music only exists on rural stages and is barely surviving. Over the past 30 years of reform and opening up, my country has made great achievements in economic construction, and more and more people have begun to reflect on their attitude towards traditional culture.

The intangible cultural heritage protection projects that have gradually emerged in recent years have brought traditional Chinese music, including guqin art, back into people's vision.

China Literature and Art Network - Tian Qing: The Root and Soul of Traditional Chinese Music