The Function of Chinese Ancient Music and Its Realization:A Study of "Zi Xia's View of Music"

Zi Xia believed that new music could make chaos in society and ancient music could play the function of keeping a stable society.Zi Xia's View of is the major ideological source of The Records of Music and the basis for arguments.Today,people may think that his view is somewhat exaggerative and would make music mystic.In fact,Zi Xia referred to the ritual music which is for entertainment.The function of this kind of music is played through the combination of rites and music.When people talk about the function of music,they often neglect the role of rites,assuming that music is automatic.Zi Xia was quite clear about the truth,but the later generation doest not take rites into account.According to the ancient documents,it is believed that the ritual music in Zhou Dynasty had played a good social function.However,to prove that,as Zi Xia acknowledged,we should find such music which can play an important social function.In 2000,in the field research work of traditional music in western China,the author found that the ritual music in northern Shanxi has such a social function.