Chinese traditional music is played with instruments of the xun, chimes, xiao, sheng, pipa, guzheng, guqin, erhu, drums, and the bamboo flute.  Often this music is played for ceremonies or to accompany dancers or other instruments in an orchestra.  This music is also played for the background of a play or opera.  It is enjoyed at concerts or by listening to recordings.  Many of the melodies are written about nature.  These songs often describe the different seasons and the weather, the mountains and waters, the sky and the moon, and various birds.

These are some examples of traditional music titles.  Can you see that many of them are written about nature?

High Mountains and Flowing Water (高山流水)

Wild Geese Descending on the Sandbank (平沙落雁)

Plum Blossom Melodies (梅花三弄)

Ambush from All Sides (十面埋伏)

Flutes and Drums at Dusk (春江花月夜)

A dialogue between the Fisherman and the Woodcutter (渔樵问答)

Eighteen Beats of a Nomad Flute (胡笳十八拍)

Autumn Moon over Han Palace (汉宫秋月)

White Snow in Early Spring (阳春白雪)

Online Chinese lessons for kids: dinolingo.com