Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c11.s3.t3.8

v2.c11.s3.t3.8

Bai Juyi, a poet in the Tang Dynasty, described in detail the structures and postures of the music dance in his poem of *Nichang Yuyi Music and Weizhi*. The whole music included three parts, ie Sanxu, Zhongxu and Qupo, and had a total of 36 stages. Six stages composing Sanxu, purely played by instruments without dancing and singing; all kinds of instruments joined in with rubato and graceful tones. Beats appeared in the Zhongxu, which was also called Beating Xu and had a total of 18 stages; the plates were used to beat and all instruments were played together. The music was from lento to moderato, being graceful with dancing and singing. Twelve stages composing Qupo, which had more tones, fast beats and sonorous melodies and was the upsurge of the whole music. Only dancing was performed without singing at the end; beats became gradually relieved and faded out in a prolonged sound. The whole section of music was pleasant, dancing was graceful, and clothing was beautiful in colours. It focussed on the images of an illusory fairyland and fairies, and was very romantic indeed.