Music in Premodern China

What did “music” (yue, 樂) mean in premodern China, and what was it like? What socio-cultural functions did it serve, and what values and priorities were reflected in different musical traditions? Seeking answers to these and other questions, this course surveys the history of music and its makers in premodern China, drawing from primary source texts (in translation), extant music scores, secondary scholarship, and hands-on demonstrations, to better understand and appreciate historically and culturally significant musical traditions of premodern China, and their enduring influence on traditional Chinese music in the modern world.