Addictive music allures and entraps people with its decadent tones. It roughly equates to “the music of the states of Zheng and Wei.”Confucianism believed that the music of Zheng, Wei, and some other states in the Spring and Autumn Period was ornate and frivolous, harmful to the moral development of society. So it should be rejected as “addictive music.” Music style changes along with the times. Even during the Spring and Autumn Period, both ancient music and new music were played. Ancient music was elegant, handed down from earlier times, and extolled by Confucian scholars. New music was popular with contemporaries or developed by later generations. Noble and graceful, ancient music could rectify people’s minds and make them conform to Confucian moral norms. Therefore, ancient music was called “music conforming to virtue.” New music, by contrast, disturbed people’s minds and made them wallow in sensual pleasures, corroding their minds and will. It was thus referred to as “addictive music.” Confucianism praised music conforming to virtue and opposed addictive music.

The vogue new music, brimming with lewd sounds, with dancers advancing and retreating with bent bodies, makes people addicted and unable to restrain themselves. (The Book of Rites)

Duke Wen of the State of Wei asked, “May I ask where the addictive music comes from?” Zixia replied, “The music of the State of Zheng is frivolous and unrestrained, making people lewd. The music of the State of Song is delicate and alluring, making people addicted. The music of the State of Wei is short and rapid, making people upset. The music of the State of Qi is overwhelming and eccentric, making people arrogant and debauched. The music of these four countries is too titillating and corruptive to public morals, so it is excluded from rituals.” (The Book of Rites)