As for the earliest forms of percussion in China--bells and chime stones--these were for political rituals. From the emperor to the nobility, at each level there were fixed regulations for the size and form of orchestras, and today it is probably only at the ceremony to honor Confucius that anyone ever has a chance to see these instruments being played.
至於中國歷史更早的打擊樂型態﹘﹘鐘磬禮樂，原是一種政治儀式音樂，從天子到諸侯，每一個層級擁有的樂隊在規模大小和形制都有規定，今天我們大概只能在祭孔大典上驚鴻一瞥。