Research On The Music Activities Of Scholars In The Eastern Jin Dynasty

Although the Eastern Jin Dynasty of 103 years is not a period of great power in Chinese history, it is a remarkable time of literature and art. This ancient history gives priority to the South China. The scholars of Eastern Jin Dynasty are content with temporary ease and comfort from hermits or monks to aristocratic families. They advocate metaphysics and nature, enjoy the landscape as well as love the gathering of literati, which forms a clear contrast with the tumoil in sixteen kingdoms of five ethnic groups in the North China. Under the influence of prevailing metaphysics, the scholars of Eastern Jin Dynasty weakens the mentality for the fame but prefer reclusion, advocate natural landscape, focus on literature and art, and pursue the individual spiritual freedom, forming a unique and romantic way of life. The aristocratic family in Dongdu transfer and preserve the traditional culture of Han nationality in Jiangzuo. They communicate with local literati in Jiangnan and combine the regional culture, which not only make a new development of cultural blending but also avoid the fracture of national culture. According to the reading records of literati of Eastern Jin Dynasty in historical data such as official history, notes, literature and literary theory, this article classifies people into the early, middle and late literati by time as well as into royal and lower literati by identity. It aims to find the main music activities of eastern scholars in different period and class: reed recovery,entertainment song and dance, gathering of literati, blending activities of buddhist elements, folk music and mainstream music etc. Besides, it also intends to explore the literati's contribution and influence to the continuity of music and culture in Eastern Jin Dynasty as well as explore the prosperous but boring characteristic of music reflected from literati's music activities.