There's an ancient belief that centres on the idea that Chinese music, in its original form, was a means of purification. The peaceful strains of Chinese music were designed to cleanse the mind, rather than to entertain. The Gin cult holds this belief especially strongly. A renowned scholar of the Qin circle put across the view that although the Qin musician may be performing in an auditorium or a hall, his mind should be 'with the forests and streams'.
The ancient Chinese also believed that sound has a great influence over the overall harmony of the universe. When new emperors took over dynasties once of their initial duties was to discover that dynasty's innate pitch. In consequence it was long felt that music for the sake of pure amusement was something of an aberration. Times have changed and now you can enjoy free Chinese Music Downloads online.
Traditional Chinese instruments are categorised in four groups, giving Chinese and other oriental music its distinctive sound:
1 - string instruments
2 - percussion instruments
3 - plucked instruments
4 - wind instruments
Perhaps one of the most unusual Chinese music instruments is the horse-headed fiddle.
Chinese folk music is very popular today and not just amongst Chinese communities - it has a widespread appeal and, in keeping with its origins as a meditation tool, many holistic practitioners use Chinese music for relaxation purposes.
If you want to relax or simply enjoy this diverse form of music, you can download Chinese music free online. Don't be shy to give traditional chinese songs a shot:)