1.List 2 specific influences of the Middle East on China.

Your answer should include two instrument pairs (total of four instruments),
the Chinese instrument listed with its Middle Eastern ancestor.
These instrument pairs are mentioned in assignments and readings (including
PowerPoint presentations) from our China and Japan unit. You need those
two instrument pairs. Additional research is not required.
Suona/Zurnah
1. yang-qin/santour
2. pipa also is believed to have come from the Middle East (the oud).

2.List 1 specific similarity in beliefs about music between India and China.
Your answer should be one specific way in which both Indians and Chinese
view their theoretical system of music. (This is from the reading found at the
link at the top of the page.)

Music can affect attitudes in a positive or negative way this goes back to our
look at universals when we said that most cultures believe music has a special
power.
The cultural relations between India and China can be traced back to very early times. There
are numerous references to China in Sanskrit texts, but their chronology is sketchy. The
Mahabharata refers to China several times, including a reference to presents brought by the
Chinese at the Rajasuya Yajna of the Pandavas; also, the Arthasastra and the Manusmriti
mention China. According to French art historian, Rene Grousset, the name China comes
from "an ancient" Sanskrit name for the regions to the east, and not, as often supposed,
from the name of the state of Ch'in," the first dynasty established by Shih Huang Ti in 221
B.C. The Sanskrit name Cina for China could have been derived from the small state of that
name in Chan-si in the northwest of China, which flourished in the fourth century
B.C. Scholars have pointed out that the Chinese word for lion, shih, used long before the
Chin dynasty, was derived from the Sanskrit word, simha, and that the Greek word for
China, Tzinista, used by some later writers, appears to be derivative of the Sanskrit
Chinasthana. According to Terence Duke, martial arts went from India to China. Fighting

without weapons was a specialty of the ancient Kshatriya warriors of India. Both Arnold
Toynbee and Sir L. Wooley speak of a ready made culture coming to China. That was the
Vedic culture of India.
Until recently, India and China had coexisted peacefully for over two thousand years. This
amicable relationship may have been nurtured by the close historical and religious ties of
Buddhism, introduced to China by Indian monks at a very early stage of their respective
histories, although there are fragmentary records of contacts anterior to the introduction of
Buddhism.

http://www.hinduwisdom.info/India_and_China.htm
3.List 1 specific connection between the Middle East, India, and China as it
pertains to how percussion patterns are learned.
You'll need to see the Chinese Opera Instruments PowerPoint from the
Discussion-Article Editing if you don't have this written down.

Music includes about sixty

conventional rhythmic patterns, each
with a name and a specific syllabic
pattern
4.List 4 specific influences of China on Japan.
Your answer should include four instrument pairs (total of eight instruments),
the Japanese instrument listed with its Chinese ancestor.
Please use this format for each of the four pairs of instruments: The
Japanese _____ was influenced by the Chinese _____.

The Japanese Shamisen was influenced by the Chinese

Sanxian

The Japanese koto was influenced by the Chinese Cheng/Guzheng

The Japanese biwa was influenced by the Chinese pipa
The Japanese Sho was influenced by the Chinese Sheng

5
Choose ONE of the pairs of instruments from Question 4 and describe how
their playing techniques are different even though the instruments themselves
are clearly related. You may need to go back to the assignment on Chinese
and Japanese instruments to review the posts made regarding these
instruments for the best example.
Shamisen/Sanxian

Sanxian is played with a pick attacked to the fingers. Shamisen has a tool that taps the strings that works
like plucking the strings. They both shake their upper hands to make the sound wave

6.Choose ANOTHER of the pairs of instruments from Question 4 and describe

how their playing techniques are similar.
Koto/Cheng/Guzheng

Both the koto and guzheng are played by working the strings with two hands. Special picks worn in the
right hand produce different sounds while the left hand works at pressing the strings.

7. List 1 specific similarity in formal structure between India and Japan.

Formal structure means the order of events in a piece of music what
happens first, what happens next, etc. Your answer should include one

specific formal structure found in India that is also found in Japan. (This is
from the reading found at the link at the top of the page.) Your answer should
include an explanation of how these formal structures are related to each
other and include the necessary terminology from both regions.
8
List at least 1 Japanese instrument that can be traced back to China which
can then be traced back to the Middle East. (Looked at another way, list a
Middle Eastern instrument that influenced a Chinese instrument which later
influenced a Japanese instrument.

Part 2
Last week you discovered some similarities and differences between Chinese
Opera and Japanese Kabuki on Assignment 5.2. This week you did additional
reading and practiced identifying similarities and differences by editing the
errors out of an article (Discussion - Article Editing). This next section is a
summary of all this work!
9. Create a list of (6) similarities between Chinese Opera and Japanese
Kabuki.
Both cultures seem to prefer polyphonic texture between the voice and the melodic
instruments

1. The traditional music of both China and Japan contain pentatonic scales

1.The kabuki stage is filled with trap doors, revolving platforms, and lifts. All of these
would have been operated in the past by ropes and pulls! Chinese opera theatres have
the same, exciting mechanical stage features.
2.The costumes of both Chinese opera and Japanese kabuki are very colorful

3. Elaborate headpieces are important costume elements for both,

4. The percussion section is very active in both styles. The percussion ensemble also
provides rhythmical punctuation for movements and singing (Wong 107).
5. Chinese opera video where performer singing by own and there are no off-stage musician for singing.
hinese opera performers also sing while they are on stage. There are no singers hidden backstage in
Chinese opera.

10.Create a list of (6) differences between Chinese Opera and Japanese

Kabuki.
1. Chinese pentatonic scale is without half steps on the other hand Japanese
pentatonic scale is with a half step
1.As the kabuki play progressed, I observed an emphasis on dance but there were
some acrobatic movements as well, but not to the extent as seen in Chinese opera (at
least based upon the performances I viewed).
2. Chinese opera or kabuki, you cant ignore the colorful makeup that is used.
Some characters have simple makeup styles and others have very colorful and graphic
designs. Kabuki performers only wear simple make up without graphic patterns.
3. This is also incorrect. Kurogo, stagehands, are characteristic only of Japanese kabuki. We do
not find kurogo in Chinese opera.

5. Chinese music can have a polyphonic or hetraphonic texture. The amount of instruments
makes the music relatively loud and the music is based on a pentatonic scale. On the other hand
Japanese music is based on a pentatonic scale and can be monophonic, homophonic or hetraphonic.
4. The stage of Chinese opera is mostly bare, but for a single podium or table at the back center.
More elaborate sets and scenery are characteristic of Japanese kabuki.
5. Chinese opera has a lot of acrobatics
6.The danpigu is a single headed drum instrument that is used in the Chinese Opera, not in the
Kabuki performances.
7. wigs are used in Japanese kabuki, not Chinese opera.