Review of Andrew F. Jones. 2001. Yellow Music: Media Culture and Colonial Modernity in the Chinese Jazz Age. Durham, NC: Duke University Press
Mimi zhi yin, meaning literally "decadent sounds," is a classical Chinese expression dating to the Han dynasty that is used to denote music that is both lewd and harmful. In the ancient Chinese context, sound was viewed as a potential register of the moral integrity of the state, as well a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Columbia University Libraries
2001-02-01
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| Series: | Current Musicology |
| Online Access: | https://journals.library.columbia.edu/index.php/currentmusicology/article/view/4899 |
| Summary: | Mimi zhi yin, meaning literally "decadent sounds," is a classical Chinese expression dating to the Han dynasty that is used to denote music that is both lewd and harmful. In the ancient Chinese context, sound was viewed as a potential register of the moral integrity of the state, as well as a power-ful tool to influence political stability and control. A reference to mimi zhi yin not only signified portentous or threatening sounds, but also served as a tacit reminder that sound is a power that may be harnessed for utilitarian ends. |
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| ISSN: | 0011-3735 |