From the early days, musical instruments in China were made from everyday items: hunting tools, trees, bamboo and even bones. During the Zhou dynasty,there were about 70 instruments. Today, there are hundreds.

But have you ever wondered how these musical instruments in China came about? Well, in this book, the evolution of Chinese music over the centuries is examined, from prehistoric times, through the Qin, Han, Sui and Tang dynasties,all the way to our modern times.

Chapter One: Origins and History

1. Ancient Ages

2. Pre-Qin Era

3. Qin Dynasty (221-207 BCE) and Han Dynasty

(206 BCE-AD 220)

4. Three Kingdoms Period (AD 220-280) to Southern

and Northern Dynasties (386-589)

5. Sui Dynasty (581-618) and Tang Dynasty (618-907)

6. Song Dynasty (960-1279) and Yuan Dynasty

(1271-1368)

7. Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty

(1644-1911)

8. Modern Times

Chapter Two: Chinese Musical Instruments

1. Wind Instruments

  Xiao (vertical bamboo flute); Dizi (transverse bamboo

 flute); Suona (Hart Chinese shawm or oboe); Xun (egg-

 shaped, one-holed wind instrument); Sheng (Chinese

 bamboo mouth organ); Yu (ancient mouth organ); Hujia

 (nomad reed flute), Jiao (horn)

2. Percussion Instruments

 Zhong (bells); Luo (gong); Gu (drum); qing (chime stone);

 Yangqin (dulcimer); Zhu (ancient zither)

3. Plucked String Instruments

  Guqin (ancient zither); Gu Se (ancient plucked zither);

  Guzheng (ancient plucked string zither); Pipa (Chinese

  lute); Ruan (lute with fretted neck); Liuqin (Chinese lute)

  and Yueqin (moon-shaped lute); Konghou (ancient

  Chinese harp); Sanxian (Chinese lute)

4. Bowed String Instruments

 Huqin; Xiqin (two-stringed lute)

Chapter Three: Classical Masterpieces

1. High Mountain and Flowing Water

2. Guangling Verse

3. Wild Geese Descending on the Sandbank

4. Ambush From All Sides

5. Dialogue Between Fisherman and Woodcutter

6. Flute and Drum at Sunset

7. The Autumn Moon over the Han Palace

8. Three Movements of the Plum Blossom

9. White Snow in Sunny Spring

10. Eight Stanzas on a Nomad Flute

Chapter Four: Musicians of Ancient China

1. Yu Boya

2. Shi Kuang, the Master of Music

3. Li Yannian

4. Cai Yong

5. Cai Wenji

6. Xi Kang

7. Su Zhipo

Appendices

Glossary

A Brief Chronology of Chinese History