What instruments accompanied songs and dances in early Chinese upper-class entertainments?

In early Chinese upper-class entertainments, music and dance were often accompanied by ensembles classified under the traditional eight sounds (bayin) system, which categorized instruments by the materials used in their construction: stone, earth, bamboo, metal, skin, silk, wood, and gourd.12

During the Tang dynasty, formal imperial ceremonies and courtly entertainments utilized large orchestras featuring stone chimes (qing), bronze bells (zhong), drums, flutes, and zithers. These courtly performances were often divided into "standing music," performed in the courtyard, and "sitting music," played by full ensembles inside the palace.53

Historical records also highlight the use of various string and wind instruments, such as the sheng (mouth organ) and the pipa (short-necked lute), which were common in both courtly and social settings. By the Ming and Qing dynasties, small chamber ensembles of courtiers or professional musicians—often featuring silk strings and bamboo winds—became prominent for private entertainment and social functions.4315