The Contribution of Confucian Music Thought System to Chinese Ritual and Music Civilization

Abstract

Confucian music thought, a cornerstone of the Confucian tradition, has profoundly influenced China’s ritual and music culture for over two millennia. This paper examines the ideas of Confucius, Mencius, and Xunzi on music, emphasizing their focus on its social, educational, and aesthetic functions—guided by core principles such as the “integration of ritual and music,” the ideal of “perfection in both goodness and beauty,” and the concept of “harmony without uniformity.” Furthermore, it explores how these philosophical tenets were manifested in historical Chinese musical practices, spanning court ceremonies and folk traditions from the Zhou to the Qing dynasties. Ultimately, revisiting Confucian music thought today serves to draw upon traditional wisdom in guiding contemporary music development and perpetuating the legacy of Chinese ritual-music culture.