The Chinese music we encounter today in films, video games, and advertisements is almost always based on the pentatonic scale, accompanied by generic drum beats and flute sounds that evoke a fleeting sense of 'wind.' However, this is not true Chinese music; it should merely be called 'Chinese-style' music. Why? Because it uses a few stereotypical elements to quickly fabricate a 'Chinese' feel, allowing audiences to identify it instantly. But the problem with this system is that when it reaches the West, it leads Westerners to believe that Chinese music is exclusively pentatonic, lacks chords, and is simplistic. This is a profound misunderstanding—a crude label used to replace the reality. In truth, Chinese music is far more complex. So, what is real Chinese music? First, we have 'Lü-Lü' (tuning systems), the core of our music. We take a pitch, multiply it by three and divide by two, then adjust it back to the same octave; this is known as the 'San-Fen-Sun-Yi' (three-part subtraction and addition) method. We have Pure Temperament, and we have the Twelve Lü, such as 'Huang-Zhong' and 'Da-Lü.' Unlike the Western Twelve-Tone Equal Temperament, our music isn't restricted to a uniform tuning; it emerges from a combination of various tuning systems, modes, and shifting pitches, requiring musicians to have an extreme understanding of these rules. Furthermore, our rhythm isn't just a simple beat; it has fixed positions—what we call 'Ban-Yan.' 'Ban' marks the main time points, while 'Yan' refers to the intervals in between. Performance revolves around these structural points, rather than the average, repetitive divisions found in traditional Western music. Lastly, we have complex structures. Just as the West has sonata or rondo forms, we have 'Qu-Pai.' These structures are pre-existing; many works are not written arbitrarily but follow fixed 'Qu-Pai' structures, where each section has a set length and specific function. Because this structural complexity is so high, modern 'Chinese-style' music has abandoned it, as untrained listeners struggle to grasp it. Consequently, in modern anime, games, and films, our authentic musical heritage is often neglected, replaced by these simplified, mainstream versions. Our entire system has been compressed into a narrow 'Chinese-style' label, yet in reality, our music should never be viewed as so simplistic.
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