Family businesses were gagaku ( ancient Japanese court dance and music ) , ancient Shinto music and dancing ( biwa - Japanese lute ) and flower arrangement .
Therefore , the term " ongyoku " often excludes ancient music and such religious music as gagaku ( ancient Japanese court dance and music ) and syomyo ( chanting of Buddhist hymns ) .
Heikyoku ( Heike biwa ) developed from the ancient musical forms of gagaku and shomyo ( chanting of Buddhist hymns ) , and is typical medieval Japanese music together with Nohgaku ( the art of Noh ) .
Heikyoku ( Heike biwa ) developed from the ancient musical forms of gagaku and shomyo ( chanting of Buddhist hymns ) , and is typical medieval Japanese music together with Nohgaku ( the art of Noh ) .
Though we do not know how that ancient music sounded, we have sufficient evidence of its power, dignity, and mastership.” —The Rise of Music in the Ancient World: East and West, 1943, pp.
As for the categories of numbers , international names including Togaku , Komagaku and Rinyugaku ( music of Champa ) have been brought over , and the elements of Japanese ancient music before the introduction of the music from the continent were included .
In ancient China , musical instruments were classified into eight categories depending on the materials used , and were referred to as ' Hachion , ' which means ' eight sounds . '