Chapter 170: Deep Respect

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"Pfft... Hahaha!"
Somewhere in the audience, someone who heard Su Chen's remark about Chinese history books not even adding up to ten pages couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Shortly after, the entire auditorium was consumed by laughter, and a few people with low thresholds for humor even laughed to the point of tearing up.
Amidst the laughter, Su Chen turned towards the show's cameras and began educating all the viewers on the history of Chinese music.
"Actually, the history of Chinese music's development can be traced back thousands of years to ancient times."
"In ancient China, music was regarded as an important art form and a means of cultural expression, closely tied to rituals, religion, politics, and social activities."
"Ancient Chinese music was mainly divided into two major genres: court music and folk music."
"Court music was the music of the aristocratic class, performed primarily in formal settings such as rituals and banquets."
"Folk music, on the other hand, was a musical form widely circulated among the common people, including ballads, operatic music, and mountain songs."
"In ancient Chinese music, the pentatonic scale—gong, shang, jiao, zhi, and yu—was widely used. These scales were based on the sounds and tones of nature and corresponded with astronomy, geography, and other aspects."
"Supported by the central government and local regimes, court music developed to a high degree, forming a unique court music system."
"By the Tang and Song dynasties, musical development entered a relatively flourishing stage."
"Musicians of this period actively absorbed the influence of foreign cultures and created many outstanding works."
"Notable among these were the development and improvement of instruments such as the pipa, guzheng, and bamboo flute."
"During the Ming and Qing dynasties, music gradually polarized along lines of wealth and poverty. Court music became a privilege enjoyed exclusively by emperors and nobles, while folk music continued to circulate among the broad masses."
"Local opera musical forms, such as the Nanguan of the Ming dynasty and Pingtan of the Qing dynasty, flourished and developed."
"At the beginning of the 20th century, Chinese music faced tremendous challenges. During this period, Western music began to be introduced into China, exerting a profound influence on traditional music."
"Many musicians actively explored ways to combine traditional Chinese music with Western music, thereby shaping modern Chinese music."
"By the mid-to-late 20th century, Chinese music underwent a process of shocks and reconstruction."

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"Although during this period many artists and works were restricted and criticized, traditional Chinese music was not completely eradicated; instead, it was preserved through underground activities and private transmissions."
"In recent years, Chinese music has ushered in an even broader space for development. Modern pop music, rock, jazz, and other diverse musical styles have been widely disseminated and accepted in China."
"At the same time, ethnic music has received greater attention and development, with many traditional instruments and musical forms being rediscovered and innovated."
"Today, China's musical development is full of vitality and creativity."
"From traditional music to modern pop music, from court music to folk music, various styles and genres of music flourish in China, adding a unique charm to the world music stage."
Having recounted this little-known history in one breath, Su Chen earned the profound respect of the audience who had previously been amused by his wit.
However, hearing the surrounding laughter, Cai Xukun's smile froze, a pair of cold, flickering eyes embedded in his stiff face!
At that moment, Cai Xukun felt mocked and insulted; everyone was laughing at him!
And the reason was this person named Su Chen, because he had refuted him!
In that instant, Cai Xukun almost failed to restrain his temper and was about to flare up at Su Chen.
Yet, the strict requirements his company had long imposed on him played a crucial role at this moment.
Cai Xukun's rigid expression lasted for only a fleeting second before he once again put on his signature smile.
Cai Xukun spoke, "History is history, but does history necessarily determine the superiority of a culture? Contestant Su Chen, have you considered this point?"
"Besides, even if as you say, China has a long musical history, why hasn't it played any significant role in the modern development of world music?"
"Based on my years of studying abroad, foreign music has always been the weather vane of world music!"
Cai Xukun forcefully suppressed his inner anger. Even though he had long wished to kill Su Chen to vent his frustration, his words remained high-sounding and righteous.
Hearing Cai Xukun's words, Su Chen smiled and retorted, "Mentor Cai Xukun, let me ask you: is there any possibility that foreign music is actually a product born on the foundation of Chinese music?"
Hearing Su Chen's refutation ring out once again, Cai Xukun felt completely unwell.
This kid is truly audacious! Damn it, why couldn't you just nod along with whatever I said?

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You don't want to survive in this industry anymore, do you? You're just a newcomer, and I can crush you effortlessly!
At this moment, Cai Xukun harbored " murderous intent" toward Su Chen as well!
Meanwhile, Su Chen's voice continued to resonate.
"Of course, we can temporarily set aside this viewpoint and simply discuss what Mentor Cai Xukun mentioned—the idea that Chinese music has had no impact on the development of modern world music. Let me share what I understand."
"Based solely on what I know, Chinese music has played a vital role in the development of modern world music. Let me elaborate on the influence in a few aspects."
"First is the exchange and integration of musical elements. The unique tonal systems, various instruments, and performance styles within the tradition of Chinese music have brought fresh musical elements to world music."
"In modern music, some Western composers have created unique musical works by drawing upon the techniques and themes of Chinese music."
"Second is the influence of Chinese instruments. Traditional Chinese instruments such as the guqin, bamboo flute, and erhu have gradually been accepted and utilized globally through international musical exchanges."
"The unique timbres and performance styles of these instruments have added diversity to world music and have been widely applied in Western music."
"The third point is the inspiration of artistic aesthetics. The aesthetic concepts and philosophical ideas of Chinese music have exerted a positive influence on the creation and performance of world music."
"Traditional Chinese music focuses on expressing inner emotions and emphasizes the resonance between music and nature; these concepts have had a profound impact on the creative methods and expressive techniques of modern music."
"As for the fourth point, it is the protection and promotion of cultural traditions. Chinese music has a long history of development, carrying a wealth of cultural connotations."
"This protection and promotion of traditional culture has sparked a re-evaluation and attention toward native music and cultures around the world, promoting the diversified development of global music."
"Actually, there are many more points I could mention, but I won't list them all one by one."
"In short, through its unique musical elements, instruments, and aesthetic concepts, Chinese music has provided new perspectives and creative inspiration for the development of modern world music, enriching the diversity of global music."

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