Introduction

Abstract

Abstract This chapter introduces the diverse field of Chinese musical culture and the present situation of research in that area. It is noted that China is a multiethnic nation and also has a significant diaspora: as such, the concept of Chinese music is at once capacious and multiple, open to dispute, and globally distributed. This volume shows how contemporary scholars are navigating this space and its associated issues. The Introduction explains the book’s division into three parts: “New Directions in History and Theory,” “Music Genres and Practices in Evolving Contexts,” and “Cross-Cutting Issues in Contemporary Settings.” It then introduces each of three major realms in Chinese music scholarship: the treatises of Chinese historical literature in philosophy, history, literature, acoustics, and music theory; the modern music scholarship in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and in Chinese communities in other Asian regions; and the growing number of publications by Western scholars written in non-Chinese languages.