Chinese orchestra

The term Chinese orchestra is most commonly used to refer to the modern Chinese orchestra that is found in China and various overseas Chinese communities. This modern Chinese orchestra first developed out of Jiangnan sizhu ensemble in the 1920s into a form that is based on the structure and principles of a Western symphony orchestra but using Chinese instruments. The orchestra is divided into four sections – wind, plucked strings, bowed strings, and percussion, and usually performs modernized traditional music called guoyue. The orchestra may be referred to as Minzu Yuetuan (Chinese: 民族乐团) or Minyuetuan (Chinese: 民乐团) in mainland China, Chung Ngok Tuen (Chinese: 中樂團) in Hong Kong, Huayuetuan (Chinese: 华乐团) in Southeast Asia, or Guoyuetuan (Chinese: 國樂團; lit. 'national orchestra') in Taiwan.

The term modern Chinese orchestra is sometimes used to distinguish the current form from ancient Chinese orchestras that existed since the Shang dynasty and was used in royal courts and later during Confucian ceremonies.