Gagaku, the ceremonial music of the imperial court, Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines in Japan, was established in the early 8th century and has been continuously performed since then. Despite its importance in the cultural and religious history of Japan, this is the only book on the cultural history of Gagaku published outside of Japan. The chapters, written by the leading experts on Gagaku in Japan and elsewhere, address religious, philosophical, and socio-cultural aspects of this music with focus on Buddhism, Confucianism, Shinto, and also explore the impact of modernization and globalization.

The book discusses developments from the 1600s until the present (most previous works focus on the 8th through 12th centuries), including the samurai appropriation of Gagaku and the diffusion of this music among learned commoners. It also traces the history of the global interest for Gagaku among contemporary composers in the early 20th century. This book brings a new understanding of the cultural history of Japan, by focusing on music, its conceptual system, and its impact on religion, society, and politics. A must read for specialists of Japanese religion and culture, musicologists, and all those who are interested in world music.