China has a long history of music and dance.

In ancient times, along with the creation of production tools, people also made simple percussion instruments and wing instruments such as chimes, wood drums and bone whistles and so on.

During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), music and dance developed to a new height. With the development of cultural exchanges among various nationalities as well as China and foreign countries, some music and dance from the minority nationalities and foreign countries were introduced into the royal court of the Tang Dynasty.

The ten “yue” took shape, which included: “Yan Yue” (music and dances of the Han people), “Qingshang Yue” (music and dances of the Han people popular during the Han Dynasty and the period of the Three Kingdoms (206 BC-280 AD)), “Xiliang Yue” (music and dances of the minor groups in the western part of China), “Gaoli Yue” (music and dances from Korean peninsula), “Qinci Yue” (music and dances from the present Kuche area in Xinjiang Autonomous Region), “Tianzhu Yue” (music and dances from India), “Kangguo Yue” (music and dances from central Asia), “Shule Yue” (music and dances from Kashi in Xinjiang Autonomous Region), “Gaochang Yue” (music and dances from Turpan in Xinjiang Autonomous Region) and “Wenkang Yue” (mask dances of the Han people).

Among them, the “Yan Yue” and “Qingshang Yue” prevailed. Besides being used for entertainments in the royal court, these music and dances were also used on birthday celebrations for the emperors, in the receptions for missionaries from other nationalities etc. But till the end of Tang Dynasty, except “Yan Yue”, the rest nine were lost.