Musical Essence And Moral Music: The Social Functions Of The Harmony Between Li And Yue From

There are two different theories about musical essence in Chinese Musical Aesthetics. believes that music expresses human emotions; it is the manifestation of the stirred inherent human emotions; while Ji Kang deems that the musical essence is the harmony itself. This article demonstrated that the musical essence exists in two systems: both the formal system and the functional system. The two systems take co-effect during the process of appreciating music, cause audience's emotional experience; and cultivate audience's temperament.Appreciating music is a process of perceiving images and comprehending the truth. Moral music can make people feel peacefulness via the soft musical form, and impel people to associate and imagine creatively. The association and imagination will prompt people to experience deeper emotions, which can improve audiences' mental spirit and cultivate audiences' taste and temperament.Li and Yue exert a profound influence in the history of Chinese ancient society, life and culture. In the aspect of cultivating one's mind, people were asked to improve themselves through studying Confucian classics, practicing Li and training Yue. In the aspect of constructing an ideal society, Li upholds the stability of a hierarchical society; builds a harmonious society through musical education. In the aspect of Chinese traditional culture, Li and Yue contribute to the unique continuity and compatibility of Chinese traditional culture.In modern society, Li and Yue must change themselves to play an active role. To be specific, Li should return to the principle of social communication and moral constrains; Yue should revert to an art that expresses emotions and cultivate audience's temperament.