Editing Music of Japan (section)

===Gagaku, hougaku===
{{Main|Traditional Japanese music}}
The oldest forms of traditional Japanese music are:

* {{nihongo|[[shōmyō]]|声明 or 聲明}}, or [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] chanting
* {{nihongo|[[gagaku]]|雅楽}}, or orchestral court music

both of which date to the [[Nara period|Nara]] (710–794) and [[Heian period|Heian]] (794–1185) periods.<ref name="malm.1959">{{cite book
| title = Japanese Music and Musical Instruments | url = https://archive.org/details/japanesemusicmus00malm | url-access = registration | author = Malm, William P. | edition = 1st | place = Tokyo & Rutland, Vt. | publisher = C. E. Tuttle | date = 1959| isbn = 9780804803083 }}</ref> [[Gagaku]] classical music has been performed at the Imperial court since the [[Heian period]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://iha-gagaku.com/english/history.html|title=Gagaku, Imperial Court Music & Dance of Japan {{!}} Musicians of the Imperial Household {{!}} History of Gagaku|website=New Site 102E_02|language=ja-JP|access-date=2020-04-14|archive-date=2021-05-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508231541/http://iha-gagaku.com/english/history.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Kagura-uta (神楽歌), Azuma-asobi (東遊) and Yamato-uta (大和歌) are [[indigenous (disambiguation)|indigenous]] repertories. [[Tōgaku]] (唐楽) allegedly resembles a Chinese [[Tang dynasty]] (618–907) style; [[komagaku]] may have come from the [[Korean Peninsula]].<ref>
{{Cite web|last= Hays|first= Jeffrey|title= CLASSICAL JAPANESE MUSIC: GAGAKU, SHAKUHACHI FLUTES, KOTO, BIWA AND OTHER TRADITIONAL INSTRUMENTS {{!}} Facts and Details|url= http://factsanddetails.com/japan/cat20/sub130/item708.html#:~:text=In%20ancient%20times,%20nobles%20were,into%20festival%20and%20recital%20music.|access-date=2020-10-02|website= factsanddetails.com |language= en | quote = 'Gagaku' is made up of three bodies of musical pieces: 'togaku', said to be in the style of the Chinese Tang Dynasty (618-907); 'komagaku', said to have been transmitted from the Korean peninsula; and music of native composition associated with rituals of the Shinto religion.}}</ref>
In addition, gagaku subdivides into [[kangen]] (管弦) (instrumental music) and [[bugaku]] (舞楽) (dance accompanied by gagaku).

<!--　Originating as early as the 13th century are [[honkyoku]] (本曲 "original pieces") - single (solo) [[shakuhachi]] (尺八) pieces played by [[mendicant]] [[Fuke sect]] [[priest]]s of [[Zen buddhism]]{{Citation needed |date = November 2009}}. These priests, called [[komusō]] ("emptiness monk"), played honkyoku for [[alms]] and [[Satori| enlightenment]]. The Fuke sect ceased to exist in the 19th century, but a verbal and written lineage of many honkyoku continues today, though this music is now often practiced in a concert or performance setting{{Citation needed |date = November 2009}}-->
[[Samurai]] listened to and performed these music activities, in their practices of enriching their lives and understanding.<ref>Compare: {{Cite web|title=Samurai: A Brief Guide to Samurai Culture {{!}} InsideJapan Tours|url=https://www.insidejapantours.com/japanese-culture/samurai/|access-date=2020-10-02|website=www.insidejapantours.com | quote = [...] it was common for samurai to enjoy calligraphy, tea ceremony, poetry and music, and to study.}}
</ref>