He acted entirely in accordance with
Chinese morality, the texts of Confucianism (see translations in
the "Sacred Books of the East Series") show clearly that music
and ceremony (or social ritual in a wide sense) are regarded as
the two main guiding influences of life--music as the internal
guide, ceremony as the external guide, the former being looked
upon as the more important.
Among the Greeks Menander said that to many people music is a
powerful stimulant to love. Plato, in the third book of the
_Republic_, discusses what kinds of music should be encouraged in
his ideal state. He does not clearly state that music is ever a
sexual stimulant, but he appears to associate plaintive music
(mixed Lydian and Hypolydian) with drunkenness, effeminacy, and
idleness and considers that such music is "useless even to women
that are to be virtuously given, not to say to men." He only
admits two kinds of music: one violent and suited to war, the
other tranquil and suited to prayer or to persuasion. He sets out
the ethical qualities of music with a thoroughness which almost
approaches the great Chinese philosopher: "On these accounts we
attach such importance to a musical education, because rhythm and
harmony sink most deeply into the recesses of the soul, and take
most powerful hold of it, bringing gracefulness in their train,
and making a man graceful if he be rightly nurtured, .
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