TANG-SONG DYNASTY (618-1279)

The Book of Songs states, “I have esteemed guests, and I play the se and blow the sheng.” which vividly illustrates the importance the Zhou-dynasty people placed on ritual and music. The sheng has been a significant musical instrument since the pre-Qin era, and its use became even more widespread during the Tang and Song dynasties, frequently appearing in jade carvings, musical compositions, and poetry. Compare with a Tang dynasty white jade plaque of a musician holding a sheng, illustrated in Zhongguo yuqi quanji, vol.5, Hebei, 1993, no.62.