Taoist music (Lashan Taoist Music)

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

Applicant: Dongping County, Shandong Province

Item No.: 638

Project No.: Ⅱ - 139

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: Traditional Music

Region: Shandong Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Dongping County, Shandong Province

Protection unit: Dongping Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Association

Introduction to Taoist music (Lashan Taoist Music)

Applicant: Dongping County, Shandong Province

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.

Lashan mountain in Yinshan Town, Dongping County, Shandong Province, is known as "xiaodaifeng". The Taoist music of Lashan mountain, which is popular here, has distinct characteristics and is unique in Taoist music. This kind of music was created by Qiu Chuji, the founder of the Taoist Longmen sect. His disciple Yang Qingrong (1478-1548), the tenth generation abbot of the Longmen sect, built the Xianglong temple in Lashan, which further developed the Taoist music of the Longmen sect. After repeated exercises and tempering by the Taoists of the Xianglong temple, the unique Taoist music of Lashan was gradually formed.

At first, the Taoist music of Lashan was mainly played during the preaching and chanting of the Taoist temple to set off the solemn atmosphere of the temple. It can also be used when going out to do the Taoist temple. Later, folk weddings and funerals were also performed by Taoist bands. The Taoist music of Lashan mountain gradually integrated into folk life and became an art form loved by the local people.

Lashan Taoist music is mainly composed of wind and percussion instruments, including small pipe, big pipe, suona, Sheng, flute, Xiao and so on. At the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China, Qi Hezhi, a Taoist, used tin to make a small pipe, also known as "tin pipe", which looked like a suona without a copper bowl. It had a clear sound and was listed as the main musical instrument of Taoist music. In addition, Lashan Taoist music also includes percussion instruments such as Yunluo, Yungu, pan, xiaotongban and dangzi. Taoist Zhang jiaopu is skilled in this way, and his skills are very proficient. The combination of percussion music and percussion music constitutes an important feature of Lashan Taoist music.

The music of Taoist Qupai in Lashan mountain is euphemistic, melodious and profound, either like flowing clouds or waves. According to records, there were more than 300 Taoists inside and outside the gate, and more than 360 kinds of Qupai. There are less than 20 kinds of Qupai in existence. After excavation and sorting, the Qupai of Linqing song, xiaobaimen and Dazao can be used for playing. Lashan Taoist music is an important part of Chinese folk music, and its Taoist music has relatively unique artistic and cultural value.