Taoist Music Orchestra of The Shanghai City God Temple
Chinese Taoist Music
ARC Music EUCD 2104
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The music here is the result of China’s freedom of religion after the Cultural Revolution, when everything religious was for the most part destroyed. Since Taoist music like Taoist poetry and thought is handed down from Master to Pupil there was a long break in the tradition and who knows what was lost. However since Taoist music was taken from the folk music of the region, this music is reflective of the folk music of the Shanghai area of China. It is played on traditional instruments such as the Yangqin (hammered dulcimer with a trapezoidal shape), Sanxian (a long-necked fretless lute), ling (bells) and so forth. For the most part the music is
relaxing and focusing without being something you would go to sleep with because it has the feel of focus. This is as close as we can come to some of the arts that the ancient Taoist monks carried with them as they traveled through out the countryside in their wanderings. This is a good disc to put on when doing Tai Chi Chuan and/or Chi Gung where a relaxed but focused mind is important.