Gagaku 雅楽 (meaning “elegant music”) is the classical music and dance of the Imperial Court of Japan. It was first imported from China in the 8th century. The original Chinese court music, called yayue, blended with Korean influences and native Japanese musical traditions to form gagaku, which has been performed in Japan for over 1300 years. Gagaku is recognized as one of the oldest living court traditions in the world and was used in Buddhist temples in Japan around the 18th century. While gagak