Mozi
Chapter 32
Mozi oppose to the musical performances because 1.Mozi thinks musical instruments aren’t in the public interests like making boats or carriage.
2.The three major concerns of public are hungry,cold and tired but musics can’t make the society get the governance if the country is beaten,the people is insulted......
3.If you wanna listen musics you have to choose someone to strike the bells . They must be the young instead of the old. However then young male can’t do farm work and young female can’t spin.
4.If you wanna listen listen the musics. You will find someone together with you. He can be a gentleman or a base person. The Gentlemen cannot govern the country by their wisdom . The base person will give up their things such as planting.
5.Mozi took 齐康公’s 《Million》for example. Performers must eat the better food and dress the beautiful clothes. Of course, they don’t need to work on the production.
Mozi suggested strong disapproval of music being appreciated among the ruler, the guardians and the subordinates because it does more harm than good to them all. This is different from Plato's point of view, since the latter sees music as part of the education, teaching people to know the "Good", whereas Mozi considers it merely as as a waste of time and sources, bringing no food, clothes, nor construction of a city.
I think Mozi said this because at his time, the Warring States, music, which is usually played at a high expense, is only accessible to the royal family, not to the majority of common people. But here by"music" he probably refers to any leisure activity that is reinless, luxurious or excessive.
Mozi said that music cannot help people in need to have the batter life and also cannot control chaotic. I think for this point, Mozi mentions not music itself but the cost of producing the musical instrument. In addition, Mozi also believes playing the musical instruments, especially bells, will waste the working time of young and strong man. And when great man enjoy music, they will waste time for dealing withe the national affairs. All in all, Mozi believes that music can let all citizens waste their own duty. I agree with Mozi ’s opinion, but I also believe that he only concern the negative part of music and ignorant the positive part, such as encouraging armies.
What’s more interesting in this part is the relationship discussed between lovers.
The right kind of love to love is orderly and fine.
The pleasure mustn’t approach love.
So this makes me question what kind of feeling in your heart can be described as love, if love doesn’t involve with lust and sexual desire, then what is the difference between the affection towards a lover and a really good friend? (Assuming that the affection for both is to the same extent: keen and strong)
We can tell from their conversation that musical education plays a important part just as the physical education and music is the counterpart of the gymnastic.
“the rearing in music is most sovereign because rhythm and harmony most of all insinuate themselves into the inmost part of the soul”
Music is considered as something that can reach into people’s souls
They’ve discussed and decided different modes of music that suits for different situations according their features. They’ve decided which kinds of music is useful and which kinds are not.
This also applies to art, poetry and crafts. However, in my opinion, whether music is the most suitable thing that can go into one’s soul is not sure because for each individual this can be different. What’s more, there’s no such thing as useful or useless music so as good art or bad art. Though we may use different music in different situations.
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