In the history of China since ancient times, the Tang Dynasty is undoubtedly one of the most brilliant chapters. Especially in the field of literature and art, especially in music and dance, the Tang Dynasty showed extremely outstanding achievements. At that time, the dynasty was dusk, and the singing and dancing were peaceful;Princes, nobles, and common people all have a deep love and obsession with the art of dance.
On this fertile soil of art, various forms of dance bloom like flowers, composing a prosperous and brilliant dance epic. This article will reveal the unique charm and far-reaching influence of music and dance in this period by deeply interpreting and analyzing the origin, evolution and extraordinary role played by music and dance in the Tang Dynasty in real life.
The history of dance in written records can be traced back to the early days of human civilization. With the progress of artistic techniques and the evolution of aesthetic concepts in successive dynasties, ancient dance has gradually formed a rich and diverse style and form of expression.
Under such a background, the music and dance of the Tang Dynasty was born, like a dazzling star lighting up the starry sky of Tang Dynasty art. As a dazzling and dazzling flower in traditional Chinese dance art, the music and dance of the Tang Dynasty not only had a profound and extensive impact on the development of art at that time, but also on the development of art in later generations.
According to the records and inheritance of historical classics, we know that the Tang Dynasty was a prosperous era of cultural diversity, with a prosperous country and a prosperous people. In such a vibrant and vibrant environment, music and dance have become an indispensable part of people's daily lives.
For young people, dance is the best way to express their inner world and release their emotions. Therefore, the audience of music and dance in the Tang Dynasty was extremely wide, including high-ranking officials and royal nobles, as well as grassroots artists and households. When the world is paying attention, dance has become a symbol of social harmony and national progress.
Through the music and dance of the Tang Dynasty, we can see the endless pursuit and innovative spirit of artists in the past generations. They inherit and carry forward the essence of the dance skills of the past generations, supplemented by unique melodies, showing a variety of dance forms.
For example, the sentiment of "dancing in the world" depicted in ancient poetry is a true portrayal of the reputation of music and dance in the Tang Dynasty. Not only that, the music and dance of the Tang Dynasty also deeply integrated the long-standing Buddhist culture, absorbing and borrowing from the unique style of Buddhism and dance, so that the music and dance of the Tang Dynasty presented a prosperous and colorful state in terms of form and connotation.
Through meticulous observation, we found that there were many kinds of music and dance in the Tang Dynasty, including the Spring Palace Dance, the Qing Shang Music Dance, the Banquet Dance and so on. Each kind of music and dance is unique because of its unique dance style, beautiful and moving melody and picturesque stage set. The exquisiteness of the music and dance of the Tang Dynasty can be seen from this.
In addition, ** is the soul of music and dance in the Tang Dynasty. The musicians use exquisite performance skills and unique vocal rhyme to convey the soul of music and dance to the audience. The musician's performance, whether high-pitched and passionate, tactful and low, or soft and delicate, can always resonate with the audience and pluck the heartstrings. The tunes were gripping and the dance was stunning, so it was warmly welcomed by the broad masses of the people, and compared with the confinement of the Song and Ming dynasties, the freedom and openness of the Tang Dynasty allowed more people to contact and enjoy the joy and pleasure brought by the art of dance.
In the development of music and dance in the Tang Dynasty, there was an indispensable figure, that is, the famous musician Li Guinian. He not only pushed the production of musical instruments in the Tang Dynasty to a new peak, but also created many popular music and dance works that have been passed down through the ages. Classic songs such as "Ni Dress and Feather Coat" and "Water Tune Song Head" are all written by this master artist.
The Tang Dynasty was the noble temple of ancient Chinese civilization, and it was also a glorious era of vigorous development and prosperity of dance art.
At this historical stage, the art of music and dance is like a bright blooming flower, which has been widely expanded and innovated, not only in terms of flexible and creative performance forms, but also in terms of content, which is colorful and deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. The art of music and dance in this period is known as:"A magnificent chapter in the history of dance"It can be called an important milestone in the development of Chinese dance, leaving a deep imprint.
At the height of the Tang Dynasty, there were many famous music and dances dotted with stars, and one of the most revered exemplars was the "Dance of the Neon Clothes and Feathers". "Neon Dress and Feather Dance", also known as "Kaiyuan Music and Dance", was founded in the Tang Dynasty Xuanzong period, carefully performed by the court female officials, its dance form is a delicate group dance, and strive to present a wonderful scene of many people performing together, the dance posture is graceful and moving, exquisite, widely praised in the Tang Dynasty, and has become one of the outstanding representatives of the music and dance art of the Tang Dynasty.
Of particular interest are the following:"Luan and phoenix fly together"、"Birds and phoenixes dance"and other wonderful scenes, vividly showing the dancers' unique soft dance steps and rich and shy atmosphere, but also revealing the Tang Dynasty people's admiration and love for mandarin ducks, phoenixes and other sacred birds.
In addition, there are also various wonderful music and dance masterpieces such as "Guangling San" and "Qinlou Chu Pavilion Qiluosheng", which have different forms and unique artistic charms, showing the flourishing and diversified characteristics of music and dance art in the Tang Dynasty.
In particular, it is worth mentioning that "Guangling San", as one of the most popular dances in the court of the Tang Dynasty, won the applause of everyone and won the general praise of the general public for its turning posture and chic and elegant dance skills.
This work is one of the most prestigious instrumental dances in China, and its artistic charm lies in vividly demonstrating the luxury and profundity of China's **. Relevant historical records show that this piece of music was actually written by Li Ye, a native of Guangling, who plucked the strings with his fingers and created a unique performance technique, which is now famous and called"Guangling scattered fingering", which shows that his skills are superb.
In the performance of the piece, Li Ye integrated his own perception and mood into the piece, creating a very personal style of artistic characteristics, which made the piece famous in the Tang Dynasty and became a well-known instrumental classic.
Subsequently, at the end of the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Kongshan used this to create a beautiful artwork integrating instrumental music and dance, which is well-known and known as"The world's first strange song"。
As for "Qinlou Chuguan Qiluosheng", it can be called an outstanding representative of dance-led music and dance works in the Tang Dynasty, and is praised"An artistic gem of ancient dance"。
This work is based on the Qin and Han cultures, depicting a beautiful woman in gorgeous costumes showing her superb skills and graceful dancing posture on the stage, vividly interpreting the incomparable splendor of women's cultural heritage and dance art in the Tang Dynasty.
The music is light and melodious, the dance is dazzling, and its exquisite costumes and stage decoration allow the audience to appreciate the court atmosphere of the Qin and Han dynasties and the life atmosphere of wealthy families, so as to appreciate the essence of flawless music and dance art.
Throughout the evolution of music and dance in the Tang Dynasty, it gradually transformed from traditional dance to court music and dance, so as to constantly innovate and strive for excellence, and successfully created a glorious chapter in dance art. The continuous integration and evolution of various musical instruments and dance techniques gave birth to a unique artistic style unique to this era, which fully demonstrated the prosperity and diversity of Tang Dynasty culture and art.
The special features of the music and dance performance art of the Tang Dynasty are mainly reflected in the outstanding dance skills of the performers and the rich and colorful aesthetic tastes. In the music and dance performances of the Tang Dynasty, the performers had to go through a long and rigorous process of technical training before they could show a wonderful dance posture and a series of delicate dance steps on the stage.
In addition, the music and dance art of the Tang Dynasty emphasized more on the communication of emotions and the coordination and unity between many fields such as **, dance, costumes, and props.
For example, "Little Prostitute in Woyun", which began in the early Tang Dynasty, is a masterpiece of music and dance that depicts the daily life of geisha in Liyuan opera. Its dance movements are gentle and graceful, and they are agileThe dancing posture is charming, elegant, delicate and moving, which fully demonstrates the supple, delicate, and charming aesthetic characteristics of women in the Tang Dynasty.
For another example, dance dramas such as "Chang'an on an Autumn Night" and "Tianjingsha Qiusi" included in "Lishan Song" contain a strong atmosphere of Chang'an's urban landscape, and the beautiful scenery of the autumn night under the moonlight is even more shining. The dancers carry stringed instruments, the steps are light and elegant, soft and delicate, ** and the dance is inextricably linked, complementing each other, making people deeply perceive the Tang Dynasty people's cherishing of Chang'an City and the nostalgic thoughts of the autumn night.
The birth of these outstanding dance works not only greatly expanded and enriched the performance form and connotation of Tang Dynasty music and dance, but also profoundly reflected people's unremitting exploration of beauty and unique aesthetic intentions.
The aesthetic norms of music and dance in the Tang Dynasty are diverse and profound. The performers pay special attention to the full display of body postures, facial expressions, gestures and other aspects in the rhythm of dance steps, and thus convey a strong artistic appeal.
During the performance, the music and dance of the Tang Dynasty paid special attention to the beauty of the melody and the smooth flow of the melody, so that the whole dance performance was integrated with the dance and echoed each other.
In the selection of clothing accessories, the music and dance of the Tang Dynasty were mostly made of dreamlike silk, satin and other materials, which were inlaid with exquisite embroidery, gold and silver threads and other ornaments. For example, the "Ni Dress Feather Dress" in "Ni Dress and Feather Dance" is a kind of splendid fairy costume, symbolizing the flight of the gods and the world.
As for the design of props, the music and dance of the Tang Dynasty mostly used simple but far-reaching artistic objects, such as red silk, folding fans, flower-like garlands, etc. For example, in the scene "Lotus Falling" in "Guangling San", the dancer holds the lotus flower, as if he is in a sea of flowers, affectionately showing the love and enthusiasm of the people of the Tang Dynasty for flowers.
It is also worth mentioning that Tang Dynasty music and dance often used dance performances to show many traditional cultural elements in order to promote and disseminate foreign cultural information. For example, in the "Three Alleys of Plum Blossoms" in "Guangling San", the plum blossoms held by the dancers reveal the love and reverence of the people of the Tang Dynasty for plum blossoms.
Generally speaking, the uniqueness of the music and dance performance art of the Tang Dynasty lies in the clever combination of many art forms such as dance, costumes, and props to create a highly personalized aesthetic taste and artistic charm.
The society of the Tang Dynasty was prosperous, and the opening of the Silk Road made the cultures of various ethnic groups flow into the Tang Dynasty in a steady stream, becoming its unique style of integration. It is embodied in the field of dance art, such as the Tang Dynasty dance has been influenced by many local cultures, including Central Asia and Wu Yue, as evidenced by the "Spring Dawn in the Grass Hall" as described in the "Grass Hall Spring Dawn" "brocade sleeves and long robes dance Han family, peach blossom calyx delicate Wu Wa". At the same time, the dance "Dance of Neon Clothes and Feathers", inspired by the "Empty Valley Youlan Dance" in Central Asia, also added highlights to the dance of the Tang Dynasty.
Further investigation, the dance art of the Tang Dynasty also profoundly influenced the cultural and artistic development of the surrounding countries and distant regions. For example, the Japanese geisha dance has its roots in the Tang Dynasty. The dance performance form called "Mairaku", which was popular in the Heian period in Japan, also incorporated a large number of Tang dance elements, especially the "spinning step" and "dance jump" in "Guangling San".
The art of the Tang Dynasty is also a portrayal of the fusion of Eastern and Western cultures. There are many works in the "Great Song" that have been preserved to this day that have been infused with extraterritorial elements. For example, the scene of "noisy bells and drums, dancing and lively" depicted in "Preface to Qinlou Chu Pavilion" contains a strong Persian charm. Persia also developed a vivid and novel form under the influence of the Tang Dynasty. It is worth mentioning that the Tang Dynasty sent envoys to Persia to teach music and dance skills, and the Persians loved it very much, and performed Tang dance in their homeland. This cultural exchange not only enhanced the friendship between China and Poland, but also promoted the spread of Tang music and dance art.
Interestingly, the family allusion of Li Bai, the first family of the Tang Dynasty, reveals to us the charm of Tang Dynasty music and dance art. It is rumored that when Li Baijiu was a child, he met a white-haired old man dancing pedal dance, and was deeply attracted by it. In particular, the dance imagery in his poems, such as "the flowers shake down and are alone, the daughters buy and are unattended, the poplar flowers fly and the smoke is thin and the horses are thin, and the few leaves are sultry and cold". Although these are legends and anecdotes, they are full of life, so that we can better understand and feel the glorious achievements of music and dance art in the Tang Dynasty.
To sum up, during the Tang Dynasty, the Eastern and Western civilizations were integrated, and the dance and art of the Tang Dynasty fully undertook the historical mission of promoting cultural exchanges and showed unparalleled influence.
In the prosperous and energetic Tang Dynasty, various dance arts competed for beauty, adding a strong touch to people's aesthetic experience in life. From the world-famous Song of Ni Clothes and Feathers to the well-known Guangling San and Qinlou Chu Pavilion Qi Luo Sheng, the artists of the Tang Dynasty revealed their unique aesthetic connotations through continuous innovation and challenge, which greatly contributed to the process of cross-cultural exchange and integration between the East and the West.
As the ancient philosophers said: "Harmony is precious", and the prosperity of dance art in the Tang Dynasty stemmed from this harmonious and vibrant atmosphere.
Looking back at the dance art of the Tang Dynasty, it is not difficult to find that it contains a rich essence of the Chinese nation's long-standing and excellent traditional culture, such as praising nature, advocating harmonious values, and noble ideological qualities.
As described in the poem that the poet Meng Jiao gave to his son: "The spring breeze is proud, and you can see all the Chang'an flowers in one day." "The beauty of Tang Feng dance is like the flowery and vibrant spring scenery of Chang'an City, which is intoxicating and obsessive.
Returning to the present, we should inherit and carry forward the excellent cultural traditions of our great nation, and absorb the spiritual nourishment of the ancients in the field of art, so that the ancient traditional culture can radiate vigor and vitality in today's society.
According to Sima Qian's historical book "Historical Records": "In ancient China, the vast territory of China, there were a total of 72 independent countries, each country was of different sizes, clothing was uneven, and customs and Xi were also ever-changing, but in the end we all found common ground and similarities. ”Therefore, the beauty of dance art in the Tang Dynasty was not only a pleasing form of artistic expression at that time, but also provided an important bridge for the connection and exchange of different cultural backgrounds and different ethnic groups.
On this basis, we should deeply understand, cherish and inherit the dance art of the Tang Dynasty, so that this unique and charming artistic expression still shines in today's era. As the famous Tang Dynasty writer Wang Wei described in his poems: "A pot of wine among the flowers, drinking alone without a blind date." Raise a glass to invite Mingyue, and the shadow becomes a trio. "May we be able to appreciate the wonderful charm of art and life together with the dance art of the Tang Dynasty, uphold the belief of pursuing harmony, nature and beauty, and move towards the road of prosperous cultural development."
References:
1."Yuefu Poems".
2."Taiping Yulan".
3."The Biography of Tang Caizi".
4."New Tang Dynasty Book".
5."Taihe Zhengyin Spectrum".