Without doubt the richest repository of ancient musical evidence on the Eastern Pacific Rim survives in China, Japan and Korea. Written music survives from as early as T'ang China, and may include still older material.
A most striking difference between ancient Chinese and early Western traditions is the intense formalization of courtly music and dance as powerful expressions of status - as well as art. Instrument types differ too: box-like zithers predominate in place of the West's preference for harps, lutes and lyres.
Amongst the most important wind instruments are mouth-organs, of the type known as sheng which remains popular today, while tuned stone-chimes are amongst the most elaborate percussion. Most astonishing is the dramatic development in the Shang and Zhou of sophisticated bell-casting.
In the countryside simpler and more varied folk traditions were probably the norm. As early as 3000 BC there are simple hand-bells and bone flutes, of which both full-size and miniature votive models are preserved.
In Japan the Yayoi and Kofun periods saw a development of native zithers into large and sophisticated multi-stringed types. Little is known of ancient Australasian music but the Native Australian didjeridu may be of considerable antiquity.
