hōgaku

Hōgaku refers to traditional Japanese music, in contrast to Western music (yōgaku). Historically, it encompassed various styles that flourished before the Meiji period. These traditions faced challenges and adaptations with the influx of Western musical influences, leading to experiments that blended old and new sounds.1

Gagaku, an ancient form of Japanese court music, is largely of foreign origin, imported from China and Korea as early as the 6th century and established by the 8th century. It was organized into two main categories: tōgaku (music of the left, including Chinese and Indian materials) and komagaku (music of the right, including Korean music). Gagaku provides rare insights into the musical practices of East Asia over a thousand years ago.23