A Study On Music Theories In Travel Notes Countries By Kang You Wei

The author hopes to dig into Kang You Wei’s perception and cognition on Chinese and Westerncultures by analyzing the relevant musical materials presented in Kang’s work Travel Notes ofCountries.While analyzing the impact that the travel experience in western countries has on KangYou Wei, the author explored into Kang’s ideological dynamics hoping to capture his view ofmusic and the reflection of his political thoughts on music. The author also discussed Kang YouWei’s analysis of cultural essence of Chinese traditional music as well as his attitude change, inthe light of which, how a reform and innovation in the current social context can be conductedrelying on traditions.The article mainly utilized philological and music historical research methods in combinationwith some technical research methods including comparison and induction when analyzing themusical materials presented in Travel Notes of Countrie). The author discovered, through theanalysis, that Kang You Wei’s social ideal of “Great Harmony”, salvation strategy of “using theancients as a pretext for reform” and modern institutional political thoughts did not only play anactive role in guiding Kang’s seeking in the West the way to save the nation, but also imposedgreat impact on Kang’s view about music. Albeit Kang’s insistence on Feudal cultural view of“discriminating the music in order to know the character of the government”, he came to realizethe urgency of “learning from the West” after a vivid experience of western musical culture, andchose an approach of “Chinese music being the origin of western music, thus the Chinese musicshould be westernized” as the specific transforming action.Struggling in the swirl of conflict between the “Old-Learning” and the “New-Learning”, KangYou Wei had experienced an ideological transformation from advocating classics, to doubtingclassics, to learning from the West. He clearly saw the survival situation of Chinese traditionalculture and found a way to address the crisis faced by Chinese traditional culture–absorbingwestern cultural spirit in modern times and reinterpreting the classic cultural view.Kang You Wei’s cultural view still presents great progressive significance even today, whichalso provides an important reference for us to enhance national soft power while based on our traditions.