Research On Taoist Chanting Of Gangu

“Taoist chanting”, originated from the ceremonial music such as“ChengTian”,“JiuZhen” in Tang Dynasty according to the majority of data records inthe earliest years. Taoist chanting is a song that used to sermon alms by Taoist priest tospread Taoist ideas and is a product of the combination of Taoism culture and folkreligion, which belongs to the rap category of our folk arts. Taoist chanting sproutedfrom tang dynasty, and has a long history. Until the Northern Song Dynasty,“FaquDaoqing” that followed from the palace songs of Tang Dynasty and “Suqu Daoqing”which was popular among the people became very prevalent. In the southern SongDynasty,“Daoqing” became accompanied by beating musical instrument called“Yugu”(a percussion instrument made of bamboo” and tube plate, so “Daoqing” also becalled “Yugu” or “Yugu Daoqing”.“Daoqing” became mature and nationwide spreadtill the Ming and Qing Dynasty, it’s also integrated with the local folk music, developedas a kind of art form with local characteristics in folk music, such as Shanbei Daoqing,Sichuan Zhuqin and Hubei Yugu. In the long development of the Taoist chanting, itforms two different kinds of music system in north and south, one of it populated innorth such au GanSu, ShanXi, HeNan, and populated as a form of folk art music.Gangu Taoist chanting is the Taoist chanting that spreading and prevalence in Gansuareas, after the long term of development in southwest of Gansu, it becoming a Gangulocal folk music eventually.Gangu was called “Ji” in ancient times, it was the place where the humanityancestor “FuXi” and “JinagWei” were born, and it also known as “the first county of thechinese”. Gangu Taoist chanting also has a long development history in Gangu, in thelong process of changing, Gangu Taoist chanting not only maintained the original artcharacteristics of Taoist chanting, but also absorbed the Gangu local folk music and“Bangzi” opera’s aria, making it become a special art that combine the original formwith local characteristics. The Gangu Taoist chanting is very popular in massesattributed to it understandable content and the catchy melody. Taoism story is the mainsubject in Gangu Taoist chanting, regardless of plays, aria, accompaniment musicinstrument or performance, all strongly influenced by Taoist, the idea of “educatepeople” is the core idea of Taoist chanting, particularly embodied in the aspect ofmoralization in Gangu.However，because of the tough natural environment, the propagation of GanguTaoist chanting has been restricted badly, and its music form, culture perspective and artistic value have never been fully researched. Fortunately, in September of2006,Gangu Taoist chanting has been successfully identified as intangible cultural heritage ofGansu province. Based on the research of propagation history and current status ofGangu Taoist chanting, the author will conduct a comprehensive, in-depth, meticulousresearch on the basis of filed survey so that the connotation and value of Taoism, Taoistchanting and Gangu Taoist chanting could be recognized.