Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c11.19

v2.c11.19

Music is sacred in Indian people's lives and minds. Ancient books show that India has had professional singers and accompanists since the ancient times, and their image can be found in some carvings around the Christian era. During Vedic Age, string instruments such as Veena and wind instruments such as flute have been made and they are the origin of some Indian national musical instruments commonly used now. Probably in the late Vedic Age, Indian musicians changed the tetrachord into heptachord, and the description of heptachord can be found in *Atharvaveda*. In the epic period, music received rapid development under the support of the royal family. Around the Christian era, music changed from the elements of religious ceremonies into a highly secular art. In terms of music theory, in addition to the heptachord, seven musical modes also appeared in India. *Natyasastra* not only summarised the drama theory, but also was the earliest Indian literature of music theory. Up to now, many Indian musicians still follow the music rules formulated by Bharata.