The origins of Chinese music can be traced back to distant antiquity. While European music was at its infancy 3,000 years ago, a complete musical theory and sophisticated musical instruments have already blossomed in China, owing largely to the orthodox ritual music advocated by Confucius. By the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.), the imperial court has created a Music Bureau to oversee the collection and editing of ancient tunes and folk songs. Commercial contacts with Central Asia brought foreign music to China in the form of the p'i-p'a , or lute, and the hu-ch'in , a vertically-held violin. Composers were quick to adapt the new tunes and improve Chinese music. By the time of Emperor Hsuan Tsung (r. 713-755 A.D.) of the T'ang Dynasty , the court has organized the Pear Garden Academy song and dance troupe, cultivating a large number of musicians, and thus laying a firm foundation for Chinese music.

Variations in rhythm, beat, and tonal quality of Chinese music are highly distinctive and nothing like their Western counterparts. This is mainly due to the unique sounds and playing styles of traditional Chinese musical instruments.

Chinese musical instruments can be divided into four basic categories based on the method by which they are played: "blown," "bowed," "plucked," and "struck" instruments.

xiao (blown)	erhu (bowed)	pipa (plucked)	gu (struck)