Chapter 11 Section 7 Pre-Qin Confucian music thought

During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the Zhou royal family declined, and princes from all over the country established their states one after another.In order to compete for hegemony, all the vassal states implemented reforms one after another and reused intellectuals called "scholars", thus forming the first brilliant era in the history of ancient Chinese thought-the period of contending among a hundred schools of thought in the pre-Qin period.Confucianism, represented by Confucius' remarks, published a series of expositions on music during this period, which were carried forward by its followers, making Confucian music views gradually become a systematic music thought.

Confucius (552 or 551-479 BC), named Qiu, styled Zhongni.A native of Zou [Zou] Yi (now Qufu, Shandong) in the state of Lu.He was not only a thinker, statesman, and educator in the pre-Qin period, but also an outstanding musician.According to "Historical Records Confucius Family", when he was 35 years old, he discussed music with the music official Taishi in Qi State; when he was learning the traditional music and dance "Shao", "I don't know the taste of meat in March", which was appreciated by the people of Qi State.After the age of 50, he has already mastered the skill of playing the stone chime, but he is still not satisfied. He also studies Guqin from Shi Xiangzi. Xiangzi was deeply moved by it.Later, he composed the song "Zou Cao" to mourn Dou Mingdu and Shunhua, two virtuous officials of Jin who died of injustice.During a trip, he was trapped in the wilds of "Chen" and "Cai". When the food was exhausted and his attendants were sick, he did not lose his will, and he still "recited string songs without fading", showing a very high level of music.He also sang "Three Hundred and Five Pieces" with musical instruments, making music one of the "Six Arts", and taught students as many as 3,000.

Confucian music remarks can be seen scattered in historical books such as "Book of Rites" and "Book of Rites". These remarks affirm the "education" function of music, and combine "music" and "ritual" to form a "ritual music" that directly serves politics and education. "Consideration, what he said, "Change customs and customs, there is no one who is good at music", as a statement reflecting this kind of optimism, has always been a famous saying often quoted by later generations when emphasizing the "education" function of music.Confucius tried his best to maintain the tradition of the Zhou family that music should be used according to the level. When he knew that the music and dance used by the Jisun family of Lu State exceeded the level of the Zhou family, he sighed, "It is tolerable, which one cannot be tolerated".He also attaches great importance to the high harmony and unity of music form and content "perfect".

The so-called "goodness" and "beauty" are interpreted according to Confucius' point of view, that is, if the content of music reflects the moral standards of "ritual" and "benevolence", it is "goodness"; Beauty", if the two can be perfectly combined, it will be perfect.This combines the content, form and aesthetics of music with human behavior "ritual" and "benevolence" (the benevolent loves others).For example, when he commented on the classical music and dance "Shao", he said: "It is beautiful and perfect"; but then when he commented on another classical music and dance "Wu", he said: "It is beautiful, but it is not perfect." ("The Analects of Confucius. "Bayi") Confucius expressed the meaning at this time: "Wu" is a music and dance that reflects the deeds of King Wu's extermination of Shang and Xingzhou. The form and structure are harmonious and unified, neutral and elegant. Acts of force have not yet been fully benevolent, so he has not been able to achieve "perfect perfection".It can be said that Confucius' musical views are typical manifestations of the aforementioned "good" and "beautiful" music concepts.

After Confucius, the person who concentrated and systematically promoted the Confucian music thought founded by Confucius was Xunzi, the author of "Yue Lun" at the end of the Warring States Period.Xunzi (313-238 BC), nicknamed Qing, also known as Sun Qing, was born in Zhao State.The "On Music" written by him not only inherited Confucius's rites and music about the "education" effect of music in politics, morality and social atmosphere, but also the "neutralization" attitude for music aesthetics based on "benevolence and love". Thought, and also expounded that music is by no means a dispensable behavior of human beings, its essence is the expression of human thoughts and feelings, and this expression needs to be restrained by "rituals"; He criticized the "non-music" thought published by Zizi, which completely negates the existence of music.If it is said that Confucius' Confucian music thoughts are only contained in his scattered speeches, then Xunzi's "Yue Lun" is the earliest known article in Chinese history that concentrates on Confucian music thoughts and develops them. monograph on music theory.

In addition to Xunzi's "Yue Lun", from the standpoint of Confucianism, there are also music-related chapters in "Lushi Chunqiu" written by Lu Buwei's disciples at the end of the Warring States period, and the pre-Qin Gongsun Nizi (one said Han Dynasty). "Book of Rites · Book of Music" and other works written by Hejian Xianwang Liu De, etc. The Confucian music theory founded by Confucius was gradually enriched and systematized through "Yue Lun", "Lu Shi Chun Qiu" and "Book of Rites·Yue Ji", and finally became an orthodox and dominant music thought. During the entire development process of music in Chinese feudal society, it has always had a wide and profound influence.