Taoist music (Shanghai Taoist Music)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Taoist music (Shanghai Taoist Music)

Applicant: Shanghai Taoist Association

Item No.: 638

Project No.: Ⅱ - 139

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: Traditional Music

Region: Shanghai

Type: new item

Applicant: Shanghai Taoist Association

Protection unit: Shanghai Taoist Association

Introduction to Taoist music (Shanghai Taoist Music)

Applicant: Shanghai Taoist Association

Taoist music, also known as "Daochang music", is the music used in Taoist religious activities. Like Taoism, it originated from the sacrificial songs and dances of ancient witches. Taoist music consists of two parts: instrumental music and vocal music. Instrumental music is mainly composed of bell, chime, drum, wooden fish, cloud Gong and other instruments, with wind, plucking, string pulling and other instruments. Vocal music is mainly composed of chanting, which is composed of Gaogong master's recitation of vows, praise of God, chanting of the table, the confession of all preachers and the chorus of all Taoists.

Shanghai Taoist music originated from the Taoist Rites and music of Suzhou and Longhushan in Jiangxi Province. It has a history of more than 800 years. Through the inheritance and development of 30 generations of Taoists, it has integrated into the music tradition of Shanghai area, paying equal attention to both sound and instrument, and showing strong Shanghai characteristics in tune and melody decoration.

Shanghai Taoist music consists of two parts, one is the accompaniment music of Taoist scientific instruments, the other is the music expressing Taoist thoughts. The accompaniment music of Taoist Rites, also known as "zhaijiao music", "Daochang music" and "French music", is mainly used for accompaniment of various Taoist Rites. The accompaniment music of Gaogong master and Taoist chanting, the accompaniment music of master performing, the transition music of the changes of the altar between the rites and festivals, and the music of the opening and ending of the rites are all listed. The music that expresses Taoist thoughts is pure instrumental music. It aims to publicize Taoist thoughts and ideas, and convey the quiet and simple interest through playing. Most of these Taoist songs are played alone, not included in the scientific instruments.

Shanghai Taoist science and instrument exercise uses Shanghai dialect to rap, so the singing and performance of the three major factions of Shanghai Taoist music, Dongxiang, Xixiang and downtown, all have the charm of Jiangnan Silk and bamboo, delicate and euphemistic, elegant and fresh. In the part of recitation and recitation, we should pay attention to the cadence and rhythm of the language; the melody is undulating and beautiful; the singing level is clear, and the accompaniment of melody type is used to connect the paragraphs and sentences. The rhyme of the first sentence is often different from that of the following repeated chanting, sometimes it even starts the sentence repeatedly and turns to the right tune slowly, resulting in the change of melody and tonality. The music is solemn and gorgeous, with more decorative sound. In addition to flute, bell and drum, string and plucked instruments also play an important role in accompaniment, making the whole music more elegant and full. The representative works of Shanghai Taoist music include "welcome the immortal", "Jingtan Keyi", "Shifan gongs and drums", etc. the representative inheritors are Shanghai Taoist Association.

Shanghai Taoist music has a great influence on the local folk music in theory, repertoire, singing skills and many other aspects. It has long maintained the original form of Taoist music and is an important part of the study of ancient Chinese religious music. In modern times, China suffered domestic and foreign troubles, Shanghai suffered many shocks, and Taoism music lost seriously. At present, with the death of the older generation of Taoist musicians, the ancient Shanghai Taoist music is on the verge of extinction.