The Music of Zheng Was Not a Kind of Folk Music

The music of Zheng was called by Confucius to devaluate a kind of music which was different from that of Zhou.It came from the Shang Dynasty,got the name in the Spring and Autumn,was accepted widely in the War States and influenced generations afterwards.For the nobilities who accustomed to the ceremonial music,the music of Zheng was a new voice.However,its precursor was the New Voice of Zhou King of the Shang Dynasty,which was older than the ceremonial music of Zhou.The performers of the music of Zheng were male or female artists who had no freedom.And the audiences were the newly arisen nobilities who had the privileged power.Therefore,the music of Zheng belonged to palace music.But in the special condition,the music of Zheng was widely accepted in country and it also absorbed something from the folk music.