The Creation Of Japanese Gagaku And How It Was Influenced By Chinese Yan Music

Gagaku is one of the most ancient music styles among existing Japanese classical music. Gagaku was formed in the 7^th- 8^th century A.D. by absorbing Chinese court music, and then it was Japanised lasting 1200 to 1300 years until today. During Sui and Tang dynasty, Japan sent a great number of ambassadors to China to learn from Chinese advanced culture. Gagaku was strongly influenced by Yan music style which appeared at the height of Tang dynasty so that it became a cultural heritage and it also helps research on Chinese court music. From which aspects was Gagaku affected by Yan music style? How did Gagaku change by Japanese culture? Based on historical data prior to the 17^th century, this thesis firstly compares Japanese Gagaku with Chinese Yan music style from five aspects: the name of music, the instruments, the structure of music, the system of music, and the occasion of playing the music, in order to conclude how Gagaku absorbed Chinese Yan music style and how it varied. Secondly, the thesis analyses the reasons why Gagaku accepted Chinese Yan music style and why it changed during Japanisation, by more detailed analysis of the five music phenomena.