The purpose of this study was to provide information on whom, where, how, when and what types of traditional music subjects were most discussed in chinese musical thought. The approach to this study was from the systematic viewpoint rather than the historical viewpoint. Eleven subject matters were found to have important impact on chinese musical thought and were repetitively discussed in ancient chinese treatises. These music topics included: theory about the origin of music, about the classification of music, music and politic, rite and music, music as a component in the cosmos, music and pleasure, music education, debate about the priority given to music or poetry, Ji Kang and his work 《 Sheng-wu- ai-le-lun 》, theory of anti-music and the perfect musical instrument Qin.