zhì shì zhī yīn 治世之音
Music of an Age of Good Order
指太平时代的音乐。儒家认为,音乐与社会政治相互联通,音乐能反映一个国家的政治盛衰得失及社会风俗的变化。乐教能促使政治清明,社会秩序稳定;反过来,太平时代政治开明、和美,其音乐、诗歌作品一定充满安详欢乐。“治世之音”也被用来指《诗经》中的某些美颂之作。
Confucian scholars believed that music interacts with both society and its political evolution; it also reflects the rise and decline of a state’s political strength and changes of social customs. Music education fosters good governance and social stability. In an age of peace and stability with enlightened governance and harmony, its music and poetry are characterized by serenity and joyfulness. “Music of an age of good order” also refers to some eulogies in The Book of Songs.
引例 Citation:
◎凡音者,生人心者也。情动于中,故形于声。声成文,谓之音。是故治世之音安以乐,其政和。(《礼记·乐记》)
(大凡音乐都产生于人的内心。情感在心中激荡,所以表现为各种声音。声音组合成曲调,就叫做音乐。所以,太平时代的音乐安详欢乐,这是因为政治宽和的缘故。)
All music is born in people’s minds. As people’s inner emotions surge, they turn into sound. When sound is formed into a pattern, music is created. The music of an age of good order is filled with peace and joyfulness thanks to the harmonious political atmosphere of the time. (The Book of Rites)