Political Ideologies and Moral Education in Contemporary China’s Music Curriculum

This study examined how the Chinese state has strategically mobilized the music curriculum as a vehicle for its political ideologies and moral education, as reflected in its officially approved textbooks. Drawing on Michael Apple’s conceptualization of education as cultural reproduction and Lucy Green’s analysis of the ideological construction of musical value, this research revealed how selected songs and lyrics were used to (a) promote Confucian values, (b) advance nationalist and socialist ideologies, and (c) cultivate a global outlook aligned with China’s diplomatic objectives. By exploring the interplay between official ideologies, moral education, and the state-sanctioned music curriculum, the findings highlight how the Chinese government has deliberately used cultural production to shape students’ values, behaviors, and worldviews. The findings also offer critical insights into the ideological underpinnings of China’s education system and underscore the role of music education as a tool for cultural governance and ideological influence.