Taishan Taoist Music
Taishan Taoist music is a kind of religious music of the Han nationality in Shandong Province. It is the music used in Taoist rituals (i.e., Taoist rituals) to celebrate the birthdays of gods and immortals, pray for blessings from heaven, and save the souls of the dead. Since the Qin Dynasty, there have been alchemists and Taoists in Taishan. After the transformation and innovation of the Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties, it has made great progress in the Sui and Tang Dynasties. After the Tang and Song Dynasties, Bixia Yuanjun was widely respected by the people, and the image of Taishan in people's hearts became more sacred. Taishan Taoism developed along with the unique cultural phenomenon of Taishan. The unparalleled status of Taishan God has achieved the prosperity of Taishan Taoist culture, and the prosperity of Taishan Taoist culture has nurtured the prosperity of Taishan Taoist music. In 2008, Taishan Taoist music was selected into the second batch of national intangible cultural heritage protection list in my country. Taishan Taoist music has a long history and is an important part of Taishan culture. It began in the Northern Wei Dynasty and has a history of more than 1,500 years. Taishan Taoist music has been integrated into the profound Taishan culture since its birth. Emperors of all dynasties highly praised the Taoist music of Mount Tai. Qin Shihuang, Emperor Wu of Han, Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Emperor Zhenzong of Song, Emperor Shengzu of Qing, and Emperor Gaozong of Qing all held Fengshan sacrificial activities in Mount Tai, and the Taoist music of Mount Tai became an important part of the Fengshan ceremony. After being continuously inherited and improved by Taoist priests of all dynasties, it has become an important part of Chinese traditional music and a precious heritage of Chinese music culture. The repertoire of Taoist music of Mount Tai is very rich, leaving behind a large number of Taoist music and classic works, especially the famous "Chigongpu" of Taoist music of Mount Tai, which has not been deciphered and has become a mystery and research topic for many experts and scholars, and has a high academic research value. In terms of ideology, the Taoist music of Mount Tai advocates beautiful, kind, and noble values, and in art, it advocates a simple, natural, clean, and elegant artistic taste. It has beautiful melodies, rich connotations, and extremely high artistic charm, and has a wide influence in temples and among the people. Huo Huaixu is from Pingyuan County, Shandong Province. After the Taishan Bixia Temple was returned to the Taoist management in 1985, he followed the 21st generation master of the Quanzhen Longmen Jinshan School, Master Zhang Changming, and took over the Taishan Bixia Temple as one of the first batch of full-time religious managers. With his sincere love for music art, he gradually developed a strong interest in Taishan Taoist music during his more than 20 years of Taoist practice. The sutras he sang are mostly sparse in words, long in tune, delicate in melody, simple and elegant, deep, euphemistic, and with many empty words to complement the tune.