According to ancient records, Chinese music developed greatly during the Huangdi period, and elegant music appeared. Most of the content of elegant music is about singing merits and praising virtues. In the Yellow Emperor's time, elegant music was called "Xianchi", which means that great virtues are practiced everywhere; in Yao's time, elegant music was called "Dazhang", which means that great virtues are manifest.

Shun, Yu, Xia, Shang and Zhou each had their own elegant music. For example, Shun's elegant music is Shao, and Zhou Wu's elegant music is Wu. It was very popular in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. Confucius admired the music of that time very much. He once commented that Shao music was perfect and martial music was perfect.