Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c11.s2.t10.6

v2.c11.s2.t10.6

**Travel to China** Ravi Shankar enjoyed great popularity in China. Professor Chen Ziming of CCOM (Central Conservatory of Music) issued an article named *Sitar and Ravi Shankar* in the magazine *Musical Instrument*, which was the first article to specially introduce the outstanding sitar concert performer. In August 1983, he visited China on the invitation of the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China, and Chinese Musicians Association, and successively held several shows in Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai, and acquired great success. Besides the two concerts in Beijing, he also gave a lecture on Indian classical music at CCOM, introducing features and skills requires to play a sitar as well as the two theoretical pillars of Indian classical music — Raga (melody frame) and Tala (rhythm), and explaining these complicated music theory via his singing and playing. Since the Chinese were familiar with only the Indian film music and knew little about classical music before his visit to China, so his lecture and performance was significant for Chinese music lovers. Due to the interesting explanation given by Ravi Shankar, the audience started to understand and enjoy Indian classical music, while Chinese musicians felt the essence of Indian music for the first time.