Like many of the arts, music flourished during the Zhou dynasty. From this period we have instruments, models of performers, descriptions of musicians and dancers, and the Shijing, or The Book of Poetry, which contains poems and songs of court and common people during the Zhou dynasty. It is likely that music played an extremely important role in the Zhou dynasty for all social classes.
One of the most important sources of information the researchers have regarding Zhou-dynasty music is from the tomb of the Marquis Yi of Zeng (433 B.C.E.). This tomb was uncovered in 1977 in Hubei Province and contained the most extensive and well-preserved set of musical instruments ever found in an ancient Chinese tomb. This four-chamber (室) tomb was designed in imitation of a palace with a central courtyard, reflecting the belief that the Marquis Yi would require the same comforts in the afterlife that he had enjoyed during his lifetime. The central chamber of the tomb, which mirrored a palace courtyard, contained most of the musical instruments found, including a complete set of sixty-five graduated bells fixed on wooden shelves. In addition, twenty-one young women were buried with the Marquis Yi, some of whom were likely his favorite musicians and dancers.
The Marquis Yi’s set of sixty-five bells is remarkable for a variety of reasons. First, they are clearly dated—an inscription (碑文) indicates that the bells were a gift given to him in 433 B.C.E.. Second, the bells were very expensive to produce and to purchase, particularly a set of this size, so they are further evidence of the Marquis Yi’s status. Finally, the bells, along with the other instruments in the room, illustrate what an instrumental band might have consisted of during this period. Scholars predict that it would have required twenty-four musicians to play all instruments at once.
There are still many gaps in our knowledge of ancient Chinese music, partly because there was no system for recording music in a written form.
【小题1】The Book of Poetry is mentioned in paragraph 1 to _______.| A．show the significance of the book. |
| B．describe the meaning of the book. |
| C．represent the life of people in the Zhou dynasty. |
| D．show the popularity of music in the Zhou dynasty. |
| A．It contains a complete set of musical instruments. |
| B．It is designed by the Marquis Yi of Zeng. |
| C．It is of the same size as that of the palace. |
| D．It reflects the wish of the Marquis Yi for his life after death. |
| A．Because it once was an expensive gift. |
| B．Because it was difficult to buy at that time. |
| C．Because it might prove the Marquis Yi’s position. |
| D．Because it needs twenty-four performers to play at the same time. |
| A．A look into the Zhou-dynasty Music. | B．An Invaluable Tomb. |
| C．Ancient Musical Instruments. | D．The Importance of Ancient Music. |
