Yayue

Yayue, literally 'elegant music', is the ceremonial court music of ancient China: the solemn repertory of hymns, bell-and-chime orchestras and ranked dances performed for imperial sacrifices, state rites and, in Confucian temples, the veneration of Confucius. Established under the Western Zhou and theorised by Confucian ritual texts as an instrument of harmony and good government, it uses only the oldest instrument classes, ordered by the eight materials of the bayin system. The imperial tradition lapsed in China, but cognate court repertories survive as Korean aak, Japanese gagaku and Vietnamese nhã nhạc, and reconstructed yayue is performed in Taiwan and mainland China today.