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The Three Methods Of Tet Dragon Music In Ancient China

Decent Essays

Music in ancient China was mainly used for 3 purposes; rituals, cultural unification and healing.

RITUALS
According to Chinese mythology and folklore, dragons have often been an auspicious symbol. Many times, they are regarded as a symbol of good luck and have been largely used in rituals during the ancient times to pray for rainfall in times of drought. These rituals are called dragon dance. News. Chinese Dragon Dance. By Conrad Poirier. [Public Domain]. Via Wikimedia Commons.
News. Chinese Dragon Dance. By Conrad Poirier. [Public Domain]. Via Wikimedia Commons.

Tet dragon dance. By Egul_. [CC BY-NC 2.0]. Via Flickr.
Tet dragon dance. By Egul_. [CC BY-NC 2.0]. Via Flickr.

The main instruments involved in the dragon dance are cymbals, gongs and drums. Since it was a dance that needed great teamwork and coordination, the instruments used reverberates and energizes the dancers and spectators. Each particular instrument mentioned above makes loud noises and strong rhythm necessary for the dance. Like how conductors wave their batons when conducting a band, dragon dance’s conductor control of the flow are the results of the precise sound and rhythm of the instruments. The length of dragons used for rituals differs greatly, it was believed that the longer the dragon, the more luck they bring. Terrace rice fields in Yunnan …show more content…

It was believed that music had the power to bring people of different background together. Music was universal and was an important tool for harmony and control of the state. Xunzi, a statesman and philosopher who lived in China shortly before the Qin Empire described his views on the using of music for cultural unification. He believed that this was a means to respect and obey their ruler, integrating the same set of behaviors, beliefs and any cultural norms. It was important, as the use of music as a tool for mass psychology was effective and useful in bringing massive social order in

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