This textbook consists of 12 units. Units 1 through 4 cover ancient music (the pre-Qin period), introducing valuable cultural heritage from this era, including music theory (temperament), ancient musical instruments, and historical texts on music. Units 5 through 8 focus on medieval music (spanning the Qin and Han dynasties, the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties, and the Sui and Tang dynasties), examining developments such as literati music, musical notation systems, official music institutions, and cross-cultural musical exchanges. Units 9 through 12 address late-imperial music (the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties), exploring topics such as the evolution and refinement of instrumental music, folk songs, and various genres of traditional Chinese opera. Each unit centers on a specific period in the history of Chinese music; by covering a wide range of subjects—including musical instruments, performance styles, notable musicians, musical works, and historical exchanges—the textbook provides students with a deeper understanding of the historical development and diversity of Chinese music. Furthermore, the textbook incorporates exercises in listening comprehension, oral communication, and reading comprehension to help strengthen students' overall language skills.
