Taoist music (ritual music/keyi yinyue) has distinctive features: Ancient melodies preserving many Tang-Song dynasty musical remnants; Free rhythm mostly in free meter flowing with scripture chanting; Unique instruments including ritual implements (dharma drum, bell, chime, clangers, cymbals) alongside flutes, sheng, erhu; Strong functionality with different tunes for different ritual segments. Taoist music has been listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage. The southern Zhengyi tradition absorbed elements of Kunqu opera, while the northern Quanzhen Shifang rhythm is more classical and austere.
