Chaozhou music is a general term for all kinds of folk instrumental music spread in the eastern Guangdong region. In addition to the eastern Guangdong region, it is also widely popular in southern Fujian, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and Southeast Asian countries and Chaozhou music. A place where people live. Chaozhou City is the center and birthplace of Chaozhou music. Its origins can be traced back to the Tang and Song Dynasties, and it matured in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The Tang and Song dynasties were the formation period of Chaozhou music, and the Ming and Qing dynasties were the period of evolution and development of Chaozhou music. The music and art of the Tang Dynasty were unprecedentedly prosperous. At that time, Chaozhou, like the states and counties in the south of the Yangtze River, had gradually entered the rising stage of cultural development. The sound of silk and bamboo blowing pipes, and the sound of bells and drums in Chaozhou could be heard far and wide. As early as the Jin Dynasty, Xiyan Temple was built in the west of Chaoyang County. In the Tang Dynasty, Buddhism became unprecedentedly popular, with temples popping up all over the country. Kaiyuan Temple was built in Chaozhou in the 26th year of Kaiyuan of the Tang Dynasty (238), and Lingshan Temple was built in Chaoyang in the 4th year of Zhenyuan (788) of Emperor Dezong of the Tang Dynasty (completed in 791). After that, many temples were built in various parts of Chaozhou Prefecture. Due to the spread of Buddhist music in the Central Plains, the two major temples in Chaozhou and Chaoyang became the largest distribution centers for Buddhist music at that time. During the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, Chen Zheng and his son (from He Nan), who were ordered to quell the riots in Dingquan and Chaoman faction, were Chen Zheng, a music official who was proficient in music, was originally a Xielu Lang of the Sui Dynasty. His son Chen Yuanguang was proficient in music and served as the governor of Zhangzhou (with jurisdiction over Chaozhou and Quan). He was known for his music and Wuhan transformed Chaoquan. Chen Yuanguang once chanted: "The flute of Qin attracts the phoenix, the rhythm of Zou brings forth spring, the misty and slender song stops, and the whirling and wonderful dancing spirit." Describe feasting, singing and dancing. When Han Yu was demoted to Chaozhou in the middle Tang Dynasty, there were already music activities for people to worship gods. Han Yu described in the "Collected Works of Han Changli" that the folk worship activities in Chaozhou during the Tang Dynasty included: playing pipes and drums to bring fragrance and cleanliness; using sound to thank the gods; Famous sentences such as bowing, fasting, washing, and playing music are also recorded in historical records: Chaozhou officials all advocated the harp and harp, and emphasized music to govern the people.

In Chaozhou during the Song Dynasty, there was a kind of great music called Confucius. According to the "Yongle Dadian" and "Sanyang Zhi" collected by Mr. Jao Tsung-i from overseas, the Dacheng Hall of the Xuansheng Temple dedicated to Confucius was rebuilt in the 14th year of Jiading and the old system was restored: Since the Song Dynasty, Chaocheng Confucius Temple has been held every year in mid-spring and mid-autumn. Ceremony to worship Confucius and perform Dacheng music. The musical instruments used include chimes, sixteen pieces of strings, qins ranging from one string to ten yellow pieces, sheng, harp, phoenix flute, etc. They were first used by scholars to sing songs, and then were played by folk musicians during the Chunxi period... It can be seen that the performance lineup is large and regular. This was the ritual music advocated by the Confucian culture at that time. It was the music of Dasheng Prefecture Jiaofang in the Song Dynasty, and its original name was Dasheng music. It was also the elegant music used in ancestral temple ceremonies at that time. This is clear evidence of the spread of ancient music from the Central Plains in Chaozhou (Prefecture).

The late Southern Song Dynasty. The Emperor of the Song Dynasty fled south, and Wu Bing, the official of the Zuozang Dynasty of the Song Dynasty, followed Wen Tianxiang and led Qin Yuan's army to the tide. Wu Bing was the court music officer, leading musicians, singers, and ritual music at that time. Later Wu Bing settled down in Chaoyang. In the Ming Dynasty, Li Ling (a native of Miancheng, Chaoyang), who studied in Jiangxi, retired and returned to his hometown to build a school palace in Chaoyang to spread court music; and Chen Chunlin, who later served as deputy envoy to Guangxi, was awarded an imperial gift for his contribution to the peace of Jiaozhi and returned to his hometown of Miancheng, Chaoyang. , the Holy Spirit gave him a group of musicians and singers to accompany him back home. This is an example of the spread of music from the Central Plains during the Song and Ming Dynasties. Therefore, Chaoyang is famous for its flute music with sheng, xiao, guan and flute as the main instruments. "Chaoyang County Chronicles·Customs Chronicle" records: Although the imperial township Wanli is not comparable to that of the Tang and Wei Dynasties, it has been deeply integrated. In its heyday, the stringed songs reached all over the world... It can be seen that Chaoyang music was very popular at that time. There are five ridges of mountains to the north of the Chaozhou South China Sea, allowing the ancient sounds of the Central Plains to be relatively completely preserved here.

During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the city was relatively prosperous, the trade and handicraft industry in Chaozhou (prefecture) towns also developed, and the population increased even more. At that time, opera, tanci and rap, silk and bamboo music, and percussion music were adapted to the lives of citizens. It is even more prosperous, and these folk music clubs and artists are invited to perform every festival. In addition, semi-professional blowing halls and music halls are generally set up in various towns and villages, and they often do red and white things for the people. Playing drums and music is a profession. These music halls organize performances at festivals or games, each showing their superb skills and often setting up stages to compete against each other. Therefore, Qingtian Chaozhou (prefecture) enjoys the famous Jieyang Paiji (the name of the music is Paiji in Chaozhou dialect). That is, cockfighting); Haiyang biting the goose, Chaoyang winning order (the name of the song) are all representative repertoires from various places, and they are all recognized by the masses for their superb skills.

At that time, there were also professional paper puppet troupes, shadow puppets, and puppet theater performances among the people. These accompanying artists often imitated the singing and playing of He music (i.e., suona Ka opera performance). They were mostly famous for playing Waijiang music. Jieyang Daji Master, There is a unique skill of double blowing, which is eye-catching, and a variety of music categories, adding rich content to the music life of the people of Chaozhou (prefecture).

Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, foreign (provincial) operas have become popular one after another, and commercial performances have been very frequent, which has injected new blood into Chaoyin opera. To give Chaozhou music a deeper artistic nourishment, it can be said that the influence from this aspect is greater and the benefits are huge. For example, in the late Ming Dynasty, Zhengyin Opera (belonging to the Southern Opera) ran from eastern Zhejiang and southern Gansu to southern Fujian, connecting Zhao'an and Dongshan counties to Chaozhou (prefecture); in the Western Qin Dynasty, Huagu Opera passed through Hunan, northern Guangdong, Huiyang, Haifeng, and western Fujian during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. Through the Hakka Jiaying Prefecture to Chaozhou (Prefecture); in addition, Kunshan Opera, Yiyang Opera, Guilin Opera and other operas have also entered the trend; Zhengyin Opera, Youqin Opera, and Waijiang Opera have been performed in Chaozhou (Prefecture), Haifeng, and Lufeng , settled in Xingmei area, and gradually evolved, it has a profound impact on Chaoyin opera. In particular, Zhengyin opera has a profound set of traditional percussion techniques of Nanxi opera and rich and complete Qupai music. Chaozhou gongs and drums "Throwing Nets for Fishing" was originally derived from the gongs and drums accompaniment of Zhengzi opera "Two Plums", and has been adapted and organized Come. The gongs and drums "Chasing the Boat", "Ten Immortals Celebrating Their Birthdays", and "Throwing Hairpins" are also derived from the gongs and drums accompanying the orthographic opera. "Qin Qiong Pouring the Bronze Flag" with big gongs and drums is derived from the legendary martial arts of Western Qin Opera and the gongs and drums accompaniment of Baizi Opera. Waijiang music is the music of Han opera (before the founding of the People's Republic of China, Han opera was called Waijiang opera), so it is also called Han tune. Its musical components include the northern and southern plate cavity and skin reed tune, which has a high-pitched and bold style, and the percussion music is based on The main features of Su gong and drum accompaniment. Chaozhou gongs and drums "Denglou" also absorbs the percussion music of Waijiang opera, and the performance of Waijiang music (Han tune) is mainly played by string music. During the reign of Emperor Guangxuan of the Qing Dynasty, it was popular among the general public, especially among literati, nobles and scholars. It was known as Confucian music and Chinese music. This kind of sandalwood sound can be heard everywhere in Chaozhou (prefecture). Chaozhou music artists can play Han tunes, and there are many famous musicians and teachers. The more influential figures include: Hong Peichen, Wang Zeru, Rong Zhen, Ding Hongye, Cai Shaomei, Liu Longyan, Zheng Yingmei, Li Jia Ting, Rao Shushu, Wei Song'an, Fang Xiulun, Zhang Hanzhai, Hong Ruyan, Yu Yonghong, Hong Binghe, He Tianyou, Lin Yubo, Xu Disheng, etc. At that time, there were many music clubs. Among them, there were the most famous public welfare societies in Shantou, Yicheng Society, Yonghuaitian and Yangchunyouchu in Chenghai, Rongjiang, Punanxuan and Yananxuan in Jieyang, and Jun in Puning. Tian, ??Anbu’s Yong Nishang and Anjiang, Chaozhou’s Yousheng, Yangfeng, Yirong, etc.