Introduction
After the Duke of Zhou established the ritual-music system, successive dynasties maintained social order through frameworks where ceremonial music served as a vital component of governance. According to the Zhou Li (The Rites of Zhou), court ceremonies featured codified musical protocols that manifested divine authority, traditionally classified as “elegant music” (ya yue).
From Western Zhou’s refined court music through Han and Tang’s musical bureaus to the elaborate performances of Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing, each dynasty developed distinctive traditions by preserving classical forms while introducing innovations. In the Qing period, this system reached its culmination, incorporating Manchu elements as the dynasty established control over China and evolving into a comprehensive and diverse corpus of imperial court music.
Among the National Palace Museum collection’s court music documents, the most complete are the Qing materials, which form a crucial historical record of court musical culture. Documents reveal that, in addition to inheriting the Ming dynasty’s music for ceremonial occasions (expressing reverence toward deities and ceremonial solemnity), the Qing court featured Manchu-style Qinglong dances during banquets, imperial processions, and victory celebrations. The Qing court also hosted a wide range of foreign performances, including Mongolian reed music and Korean court music and dance, creating a sophisticated multicultural musical environment.
Have you ever wondered about the historical accuracy of musical performances in modern-day historical dramas depicting Qing court life? How would actual imperial orchestras have performed in line with established historical protocol and ceremonial requirements?
This exhibition draws upon original documents to explore four themes: The Imperial Orchestra, Songs and Dances, Music from the Four Frontiers, and Echoes Beyond the Strings. We examine the historical landscape of Qing court musical activities and their contributions to both Chinese and foreign musical traditions. The exhibition offers visitors insight into courtly musical traditions spanning millennia and capturing the resonant, melodious echoes of these historical soundscapes.
Are you ready for the court music to begin?