Introduction
Have you ever considered how Western society has affected your ability to hold a variety of viewpoints?
Influence of Western Culture on Music
Music, a crucial component of culture, is impacted over time as society changes, which also has an impact on other things. Western culture has influenced many different genres of music; world music is a prime example because it includes regional music from areas other than the West and most of those areas or nations have a lengthy history of music. I pick China and Japan from the list of nations to investigate the influences on their musical traditions. I picked the two countries due to their huge cultural gap and difference social structures between the Western society and eastern or Asian society. The Western society has a significant impact on music culture in both China and Japan, that it can be seen from the changes in music aesthetic of people due to some historical events, the transformations of music genre and people's frenzy of musical instruments especially western instruments.
Historical Influences on Chinese and Japanese Music
First, looking at history, some western countries had complex relations with China and Japan; therefore, the culture and ideas of music were brought to these two countries to influence their thoughts and aesthetics about music. During 207 BCE - 220 CE, China created a "Silk Road" which was a road to connect with western countries (UNESCO, 2017). A group of people from China traveled to the Western countries and constantly exchanged the culture, rare items among other things. An organization has analyzed the Silk Road and illustrates that the "travelers along the Silk Roads were attracted not only by trade but also by the intellectual and cultural exchange that was taking place in cities along the Silk Roads, many of which developed into hubs of culture and learning" (UNESCO, 2017). From that time, western culture officially entered and played an important role in changing the Chinese perspective of the music type. China did not get in touch with Western special genre due to the traffic inconvenience that caused challenges in communication with the outside world before. After traveling, Chinese were inspired by Western music, and a majority of them started to practice the "new trend" and ideas from western societies into Chinese music.Most of the early Chinese music showed distinct western amorous feelings. The tune from Western societies was more undulating, and the beat was always faster compared to the Chinese music at that time. Chinese also had a different understanding such as the formula and tune composition of the diversity of music because of Western societies. Therefore, the door opened to a new world which attracted more and more Chinese to discover and understand another side of music. A similar situation happened in Japan as but in a different aspect. Japan as an island country which was influenced by many countries, however; the Western community or countries had the greatest influence on it.
Transformation of Music Genre in China and Japan
During World War II, due to the political influence of Japanese government and military, majority music was intense, positive and powerful. It encouraged people and soldiers a lot in their studies and work. After the war, Japan has remained in trouble due to the U.S. atomic bomb attack. The life of Japanese people especially Hiroshima citizens suffered from the loss of loved ones, homelessness and hunger. Everyone was left living in fear. The action of the Western society changed Japanese completely as well as their music. After World War II, Japanese music began to develop in a sad and painful musical style; for instance, pure music became popular in Japan. Its beat was slower than those of music from the old days, and the songs were made longer. These conditions created a pessimistic atmosphere for the music.For some songs with lyrics, many Japanese composers stood for all people to put their versions of the war in songs to create another understanding of music. An author who described one of the Japanese composers of that era claim that "many of these songs have served as arguments against nuclear power, but Misora, who eloquently relays a human account of the bombing, may have provided the strongest argument of all of them" (Wong, 2015). The brutal war made most of the Japanese music to express people's ideas and moods. Therefore, for a long time, the Japanese's understanding and aesthetic of music was negative due to the influence of western society. Two historical events let China and Japan own brand-new music aesthetic.On the other hand, the genres of music in China and Japan are influenced by the musical elements and style of western society when they spread to the east. The most apparent change in music genre in China is the emergence of Rock. Before the appearance of Rock, China kept the antique side which always played a soft, elegant and comfortable melody. However, with the advancement of technology and musical instrument, music elements and genres which from the Western society arise people's attention. Rock is the most influential one among the many genres. Some international students from Western countries bring Rock to China, which starts the rock era. Chinese artists and singers have inherited the elements of Western rock such as the encouraging lyrics and passionate voice. This type of music faces to both adults and youth since it gives them energy which helps them to release the pressure in life through the rhythmic and dynamic Rock music. Also, it vaguely conveys some contemporary political issues which are hidden in the lyrics.Furthermore, the influence of the Western society helps China to discover numerous artists such as Cui Jian whose voice and Chinese rock songs accompanied with majority people's youth. Following the spread of Rock music in China, it has become an essential Chinese music genre, and impacts generation by generation. Even though the Rock era ends, Chinese music still contains western music elements. Like China, Japan too has been impacted by the west. Japanese early music genre is similar to the Chinese one, therefore, when Western societies promote their culture and music genre to the East, Japanese music has also undergone a distinct transformation. Electronic music plays a vital role in the development of Japanese music genre, J-pop.Due to the sudden resurgence of electronic music in Western pop, it spread around the World since Western countries developed musical technology and machine earlier than eastern nations. Therefore, the electric music is a new and magical music genre in Japan. Some composers in Japan started making their own type of electronic music. The repeated and moving gospel beats drew Japanese to get involved. It even facilitates the development of Japan's two dimensions industry which is the most famous Japanese culture. Japan wields the electronic elements in many other types of music genre as well, which demonstrates the remarkable influence of western music. Both countries have been affected by the Western society, and use Western music elements in their music to change and replace a part of original styles, which can be a crucial transformation in the world music history.
Influence of Western Musical Instruments
In addition to that, the introduction of Western musical instruments in China and Japan also has a significant impact, especially in people's attention to these devices. In China, the musical instrument "piano" from the Western countries is seen as the best western musical instrument. Playing the piano is one of the skills that is highly respected in China because a lot of well-known pianists from western countries impacts citizens and some children. Therefore, the number of people learning to play the piano is constantly increasing. “China has about 5 million children and youths learning the piano, and about 80 percent of the pianos sold in China each year are for them” (Yingqun, 2013). The latest data indicate that about 30 million children are learning to play the piano.The power of this Western musical instrument can clearly be seen. Moreover, the keyboard of piano is a new concept for China since before the emergence of piano, China only has wind and string instruments. The type of music that can be played on each instrument is limited due to their own unique tune. The piano sound is suitable for almost all types of music compared to other musical instruments. So, this western invention became so popular in China today and affects the Chinese music culture. At the same time, the drum kit is another western instrument which attracts people’s attention in Japan. Japan's Taiko has the similar working principle with the drum kit and is used in many Japanese genres. However, it remains limited to a particular type of music such as festival music and so on. As I mentioned before, Japan would like to promote rhythmic music, so that it prefers an instrument like the drum.The introduction of drum kit intensively attracts Japanese because of its variety of rhythm changes, and it is more suitable for modern pop music. Western societies have also been changing the aesthetics of the latest popular music around the world, and Japan is no exception. Many kids in Japan begin to learn drum kit when they are between 3 to 5 years old. There are a bunch of videos which show a 3-year-old Japanese boy as a drummer playing the drum kit with a surprising rhythm sensation and playing skill. It shows how much the western society impacts on the Japanese music culture. Western society deeply influences China and Japan in terms of people's sensitivity to musical instruments.
Conclusion
To sum up, western society brings various concepts, culture, and technology to China and Japan, which they are gradually affected over time especially for the music culture area. The alternations in music aesthetic of people, the transformations of music genre and people's consciousness to western instruments are all the significant evidence. Both China and Japan have profound musical cultures still undergo tremendous changes because of it. I suppose western society always pays attention to the public music tastes and is good at discovering the hates and likes of people. That is the reason why it can impact so many regions including China and Japan on their music culture. It is helpful for the music industry because some artists could find out the interests and a new genre in those kinds of combinations. Thus, western society has made remarkable contributions to music culture.
References
UNESCO. (2017, November 23). About the Silk Road. Retrieved from Unesco: https://en.unesco.org/silkroad/about-silk-road
Wong, D. (2015, August 9). The Song That Dealt With Atomic Bombs. Retrieved from Japan Times: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2015/08/09/music/song-dealt-atomic-bombs/#.Whbu1FWWa02
