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What are the characteristics of Taoist music? How does it relate to folk music?

Taoist temple music sounds very distinctive. What unique characteristics does Taoist music have? How is it related to folk music?

1 answers
bamaporo93 1 week ago

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.