Multidisciplinary Archaeological Approaches to Pre-Qin Music: Origins and Evolution of Musical Culture

Abstract

The pre-Qin period, as the origin of Chinese musical culture, holds significant archaeological value for understanding the evolution of ancient musical traditions. This paper employs a multidisciplinary approach, integrating the latest findings from archaeology, history, and cultural anthropology, to systematically explore the material remains of pre-Qin music, archaeological discoveries of musical instruments, and their functions and significance in ancient society. Through an in-depth analysis of pre-Qin musical texts and archaeological data, the paper reveals the evolutionary trajectory of the connotation of "music" throughout history, particularly the transformation from "Ci" with words but no music to a purely literary form. This study not only enriches the research content of pre-Qin music history but also provides a new perspective for understanding the origins and development of ancient Chinese musical culture, further advancing the application of music archaeology in cultural heritage management.