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Chinese music development and its heritage
during the Tang Dynasty
 The
ancient history of China is generally divided into two periods:
the Ancient Times ( 2,100 BC - 220 AD) and the Middle Age (220 -
960 AD). Historical records of ancient China are mixed with fairy
tales and legends. From historical legends, music of the Ancient
Times often signifies totem worship. For example, the legendary
Huangdi worshiped clouds, thus his music was called "the clouds".
Chang'an in the Western Han Dynasty witnessed a great popularity
of hunting and a variety of folk performances. So, constructing
imperial gardens and setting up theatres became the vogue of the
time. The performances included acrobatics, martial arts, magic,
farce, music, singing, dance and many others. The regular items
performed on the royal stage were "A Tiger Tamer from Donghai"
and "A Fairy Chorus". In the 6th year of Yuanfeng under
the reign of Emperor Wudi (115 AD), the theatre in the Shanglin
Imperial Garden was open to the common people, It was said that
folk within a radial distance of 100 miles flocked to the theatre
to watch the performances. The performances were spectacularly grand
and rich in content. The actors garbed as animals dances  vigorously.
As the "fish" and "dragon" sent up a fountain
of spray, clouds and fog suddenly rose, amidst which a yellow dragon
soared into the air. While the player garbed as a white tiger started
playing the Se (a 25-stringed instrument, similar to the zither)
anothetr player, made up as a dragon, began blowing the Chi (a flute-like
bamboo instrument). Nu Wa and other goddesses began singing melodious
songs. All of a sudden, thunders rumbled and snowflakes fluttered
about. Meanwhile, an ostrich, a white elephant and other animals
came to the scene, dancing elegantly. They were followed by a magician
who swallowed a sword and belched out flames, pushing the performance
to its fascinating climax.
Tang Dynasty was every open minded to the absorption and assimilation
of foreign cultures from the western regions into their own culture.
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