Contrary to popular belief, Japan already had a strong tradition in music before they were influenced by China and Korea. Their tradition consisted of mostly popular songs of political and social issues, as well as the Shinto rituals and chants. It is possible that their court music and dances were handed down from the Nara and Heian. Yet almost all of Japanese music's origin can not be determined.

It seems that by the time Japan started to write down their music they had already created a complex theory of music. Different styles of Japanese music was used in Buddhist and Shintoistic ceramonies, popular, military, and court uses.

The secular music in Japan was classified as gigaku or Kure-gaku. This style of music was used in pantomimes and popular dances. This style started out as the most popular style of music, but later became the least apreciated official music.

The musical enviroment in the T'ang courts were of great diversity. A formal set of rules called the "Ten Styles of Music" were used to decide on the use of Chinese and foreign music styles in the court. Sangaku was the most exciting of the early music; between songs were acrobatics and energetic pantomimes. An important concept to understand about ancient Japanese music is that it is thought to make no sense without performance, story, pantomine, or dance.

Ther are two different kinds of music that can be learned. Exoteric music takes little musical talent and almost no training. This type of music was often used by Buddhists. Esoteric music takes special training and talent.

Japanese music theory was based on the five tones of the musical scale (called pentatonic scale) were related and often reffered to five material substances. These consisted of Earth=1st note, Metal=2nd note, Wood=3rd note, Fire=4th note, and Water=fifth note. Their theories were based on eight categories of sound, metal(bells), stone(stone chimes), earth(ocarina), leather (drums), silk(stringed instruments), wood(double reed wind instruments), gourd (mouth organ), and bamboo(flute).

The Japanese created many original styles of music to use for military, entertainment, religous ceramonies, and relaxation. Their theory of music was complex for the time, and their music brought plays and stories to life.