According to musicologist Yifan Fan, Chinese civilization has always been known as the civilization of rituals and music, with music playing a significant role throughout the dynasties. The development of Chinese traditional music cannot be separated from the injection of various philosophical ideas and social consciousness. Whether it is the ritual music system of the Zhou Dynasty, the Hundred Schools of Thought during the Warring States period, the metaphysical discussions of the Wei and Jin Dynasties, or the Buddhist philosophy of the Han and Tang Dynasties, each era has played an important catalytic role in the formation of the aesthetic theory of Chinese traditional music.

Traditional Chinese music is deeply intertwined with philosophical ideas rooted in Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. These three influential factors have interacted, collided and integrated throughout history, giving rise to a rich tapestry of philosophical outlooks in different periods.