[Music] Liuyang Ancient Music for Confucius Memorial Ceremony

Created in over a hundred years ago, Liuyang Ancient Music for Confucius memorial ceremony was originally played at the Dacheng Hall of Confucius Temple in Liuyang. Dancers, instrument players, and singers gave performances at the ceremony. 15 ancient musical instruments were used, including Tezhong, Bianzhong, Teqing, Bianqing, Yinggu, Guqin, and Se. The music had mild tones and solemn tunes, accompanied with modest dances, to express the Doctrine of the Mean of Confucianism. It is said that Zeng Guofan, a famous statesman and military general of the Xiang Army in the late Qing Dynasty, spoke highly of the music and recommended it to the emperor.

Because of some historical reasons, many musical instruments for the Liuyang Ancient Music for Confucius memorial ceremony were lost. Beginning in 1980s, measures were taken to collect and sort out Liuyang Ancient music and its musical instruments.

In order to preserve Liyang Ancient Music, Liuyang government has taken efforts including collecting and recording first hand data from the musicians and dancers, and collecting musical instruments and props in 2004; sorting out materials about Liuyang ancient music to compile the book Liuyang Ancient Music for Confucius Memorial Ceremony in 2005; and inviting the inheritors Qiu Shaoqiu and Liu Baixiang to perform and popularize the music in 2012.



Liuyang Ancient Music for Confucius Memorial Ceremony was listed among the third batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritages in the end of 2014.

On April 14, 2015, Liuyang Ancient Music for Confucius Memorial Ceremony made a reappearance at Liuyang Confucius Temple, 67 years after its last staging in 1948.