Beautiful music refines one’s character, purifies the soul, and brings comfort. But did you know that music was originally intended to cure illness? This can be traced back to Cangjie’s creation of characters, as the character for “medicine” (藥) is derived from the character for “music” (樂). From its very inception, music has been used to treat illnesses and restore balance and well-being — in other words, it is the ancestor of medicine.
The evolution of the Chinese character for medicine
The Chinese have long known that music can cure illness. Initially, the focus of the character for “medicine” was on “music.” In oracle bone inscriptions, there was not yet a clear distinction between “music” (樂) and “medicine” (藥) — they were one and the same. The character for music originally depicted strings stretched over a wooden frame, representing an early stringed instrument and the practice of ritual music.
In later Bronze Script, the character for “music” (樂) developed into a more complex form, combining elements such as silk strings and wood, reflecting musical instruments used in ritual settings. The character for “medicine” (藥) emerged later by adding the grass radical (艹) above the structure, indicating the use of medicinal plants and herbs.
From this evolution, the two concepts gradually became distinguished in written form, with music and medicine developing into separate characters while still retaining their shared cultural association with healing and balance.
Today, when modern people see the character for “medicine,” they typically focus only on the herbal aspect of healing, and musical therapy has gradually been forgotten. In modern times, the simplified character for “medicine” did not retain this connotation; it simply replaced “music” with “medicine,” thereby losing this precious historical allusion from ancient China.
Cangjie, regarded as the legendary inventor of Chinese writing, created the character “樂” based on the historical account of the Yellow Emperor’s battle against Chiyou. After the Yellow Emperor defeated Chiyou, Chiyou’s soldiers were stunned into unconsciousness by the battle drums. To heal these soldiers, the Yellow Emperor crafted a bell-shaped metal object — what we now call a musical instrument. This instrument had a copper center, silk strings on both sides, and was played on a wooden frame. Upon hearing the music, Chiyou’s soldiers were restored to health. Cangjie then created the character for “music” (樂) based on this bell-shaped metal object.
Why can music cure illness?
Ancient people believed that the five musical tones could help restore internal harmony within the body. Each state of imbalance was thought to correspond to a particular tone, and music was used to support the restoration of balance between body and mind.
The Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon), a foundational text of traditional Chinese medicine, records the theory of “Five Tones for Healing Diseases.” In this system, the five musical tones — Gong, Shang, Jiao, Zhi, and Yu — are linked to the Five Elements and correspond to the five major internal organ systems of the body: the liver, heart, spleen, lungs, and kidneys.
Modern scientific research validates this ancient knowledge. Sound, at its core, is a mechanical wave of vibration. Because the various particles of the organs and tissues of the human body are constantly in motion, they possess their own natural frequencies. When the specific vibrational frequency of a melody aligns with these internal systems, it creates a state of biological resonance. This harmonious vibration gently restores equilibrium, regulates autonomic functions, and stimulates systemic healing.
Therefore, the ancients favored listening to “virtuous and elegant music” — that is, music that emphasizes moral character, aligns with the natural order of the universe, and follows the principles of human health and well-being. Such music purifies the human spirit, keeps the mind tranquil, and maintains harmony among the body’s organs, naturally achieving therapeutic effects.
Modern music, by contrast, is quite different: it is often loud, chaotic, or overly stimulating. Rather than fostering harmony between mind and body, these forms of music agitate the spirit, making it difficult to attain tranquility. Far from having any therapeutic effect, such music is said to bring out one’s “demon nature,” meaning it stirs excessive desires, weakens self-restraint, and creates internal imbalance, ultimately causing harm to the body. Only music that maintains clarity, order, and emotional balance supports genuine healing, harmony, and well-being.
Virtuous and beautiful music is medicine for the soul
Good music can suppress negative thoughts, allowing one to listen wholeheartedly to its essence without distractions. Therefore, true music is virtuous music — it embodies beauty, positivity, purity, and light, elevating the highest qualities of human nature. Only such music can bring true health and happiness.
So, the next time you feel down, tired, or unwell, why not listen to a piece of classical music? You may just find that within its refined harmonies and timeless beauty lies a gentle force — one that effortlessly restores balance, quiets the mind, and renews the spirit.
Translated by Eva and edited by Tatiana Denning
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