In modern Chinese music, there are not only rich historical resources to draw from, but also rich folk traditional resources. These resources are living traditions that attract the interest of both Chinese and foreign scholars. According to traditional Chinese music theory, Chinese folk music can be divided into four categories.
Instrumental music
Chinese instrumental music can be divided into two categories: solo and ensemble. Solo music is again divided into categories such as bowstring, plucking, blowing, and percussion.
Similarly, ensemble music can be further divided into string music, silk and bamboo music, wind and pipe music, drum and percussion music, and wind and percussion music. These five-ensemble music forms the essence of traditional Chinese music.
Opera music
There are over 300 types of local operas in China. These operas can be divided into four categories according to their music: (1) Pihuang Tune; (2) Bangzi Tune: (3) Kun Tune; (4) High Lumen. Peking Opera belongs to Pihuang Opera.
Folk songs
Folk songs are the foundation of various types of folk music. In China, due to its vast territory and large population, there are rich and colorful folk songs to be found everywhere. Generally speaking, Chinese folk songs can be divided into three categories: (1) Valley songs; (2) Tales; (3) labour songs.
Dance music
Chinese folk dances also have a wide variety of styles. Among them, the most popular ones are (1) Yangko; (2) Waist drum; (3) Boat-running; (4) Flower lantern; (5) Tea picking.
Traditional Chinese music refers to music created by the Chinese people using their own inherent methods, which take their own inherent forms based on the morphological characteristics of their own clans. It includes not only ancient works produced in history and handed down to today, but also contemporary works. Yet, “folk music” and “new music” still fall under “Chinese music. In fact, "national music", "traditional music", and "folk music" are three different concepts: "national music" includes traditional music and new music; "Folk music" is only one category of traditional music. Moreover, China's national music is very rich, including palace music, religious music, and literati music.
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