The study of the phenomenon of the movement «Taoism», which arose in the
3rd millennium BC and formed into a coherent system of philosophical and religious
views in the 1st millennium BC, the huge influence of its philosophical and aesthetic
principles on the entire further development of Chinese culture and art, has recently
attracted an increasing number of both Chinese and world researchers. Their works
are dedicated to the study of the texts of the most ancient books of China,
philosophical treatises, works of literary heritage and monuments of fine and
architectural art, almost not touching the problems of studying the musical art of the
Taoists, the origins, the development of their musical culture, and the significance of
the influence of the traditions laid down by them on the further development of the
Chinese national music.
Taoism appears to be the most original and distinctive trend in China and most
deeply reflects the peculiarities of Chinese thought. The basis for the emergence of
Taoist music was the awareness of the existence of special, musical sounds by the
ancient Taoists; the invention and fixation of the deep and voluminous word «music»
(yue) as inseparable categories of «special sounds», «health», «joy», «happiness»,
«satisfaction» and «pleasure», in search of which, as well as conducting rituals and
meditating, they have long chosen forms of listening and performing melodies;
creation of the first musical instruments and song and dance melodies; selection of
the first singers-performers of Taoist songs from among the people; comprehension
of further understanding the importance of music in the life of society and the
definition of its role by ancient philosophers: music creates pleasure that a person
cannot do without (Xuang Ji), that the essence of musical sounds is harmony,
harmony in heaven and on Earth is the highest state of music (Ji Kang ), as the idea of
universal balance in the world of harmony – the harmony of man with music, which
is an element of this harmony (Confucius), that the one who has realized the Tao can
express his thoughts in songs most precisely – because the creation of music comes
from nature and the universe (Lu Xu Jin).
The developed original concept of human cultural development became the
basis of Taoist culture, the vocal culture of China in particular. Philosophical
thoughts became an integral part of Chinese culture, and the fundamental ideas of
Taoist philosophy and religion, which had long been embedded in people's minds,
had a determinative influence on laying the foundations for the formation of all types
of Chinese art, including musical art.
