The Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period was the first period of great ideological emancipation in Chinese history. With the disintegration of the Western Zhou Dynasty and slavery, spokesmen of various classes and thinkers of various schools put forward their own political thoughts and academic views, arguing with each other and influencing each other, thus forming a situation in which academic thoughts are extremely active in hundred schools of thought. "Music", as a part of academic contention in hundred schools of thought at that time, was further expounded in theory. As far as its academic thought types are concerned, most of them belong to the category of music sociology and music aesthetics. Among them, the social function of Confucianism and schools in the music valley, aesthetic point of view, the relationship between music and politics, ethics and so on are discussed, which has had a far-reaching impact on the development of traditional music in China and is representative in the history of music thought in China. The research and reflection on Confucian music thought is still of practical significance for a deeper understanding of China's excellent traditional music culture.

The founder of Confucian music concept is an important thinker, politician and educator in the Spring and Autumn Period. Confucius was born in 551 BC and died in 479 BC. As a great thinker and educator, Confucius left a rich ideological and cultural heritage for future generations, including his views on music. Among the six arts he teaches, music ranks second. As the saying goes, "it is based on poetry, ceremony and music", that is to say, a person's cultivation begins with poetry and ends with music, which shows that he attaches importance to music. He integrated music education into aesthetic education, which can be said to be the earliest person to introduce and implement "aesthetic education" in China.

Confucius' understanding of music has a practical foundation. He can sing with music in 35 poems in The Book of Songs. He is also familiar with many musical instruments, and can play the piano, drum instrument, blowing sheng and percussion. His ability to appreciate music is also quite high. He once heard the wonderful Shaole in Qi State, but "I don't know the taste of meat in March". This ability to feel music is absolutely professional. It is on this basis, coupled with the wisdom of thinkers, that Confucius formed his unique and profound views on music.