The ancient Chinese philosophers recommended dancing to strengthen the human body and mind. They emphasized the mimic expressions which all races of the world should learn as an unspoken and universal language. It is written that the great ruler Li-Kaong-Ti took dancing and music lessons from the great teacher of music, Teu-Kung, so that he was able to give entertainments in these arts to his family and guests. He founded a dancing academy at the court and invited learned Mandarins to take charge of the institution. Gradually dancing was introduced in all the colleges and public schools. All Chinese educated classes had to be good dancers at that time. The rulers used to dance to the public at great annual festivals to express their gratitude or dissatisfaction. The receptions of various Viceroys at the national capital were opened with dancing performed by the great functionaries and statesmen of the empire. People judged the characteristics of their newly appointed officials and judges from the individual peculiarities of their dance. The Chinese court kept regularly 64 sworn dancers, who were obliged to give historic ‘ballets’ to the rulers. The orchestra was composed of flutes, a drum, one or several tambourines with bells, and a queer instrument in the shape of the figure ‘2.’ About a thousand years before Christ an imperial decree was issued for the purpose of limiting the number of dancers that one or another of the statesmen could employ. Eight different dances were performed at the Chinese court and eight dancers participated in each dance. The first dance was _Ivi-Men_--Moving Clouds; this was given in honor of the celestial spirits. The second dance was the _Ta-knen_--Great Circle; this was performed when the Emperor brought sacrifice at a round votive altar. The third dance was _Ta-gien_--General Motion; this was performed during the sacrificial festival at the square altar. The fourth dance was _Ta-mao_--Dance of Harmony; this was the most graceful dance and was dedicated to the Four Elements. The fifth dance was _Gia_--Beneficial Dance; this dance was dedicated to the spirits of the mountains and rivers, and was slow and majestic. The sixth dance was _Ta-gu_--Dance of Gratitude; this was dedicated to women. The seventh dance was _Ta-u_--Great War Dance; this was dedicated to the spirit of Man. The eighth dance was _U-gientze_--Dance of Waves; this was dedicated to the ancestors and was of elaborate form, containing nine different movements and nine different rhythms. These were all long ‘ballets’ and lasted for several hours each. But besides these there were six smaller dances. One of these was called the Dance of the Mystic Bird; another the Dance of Oxtail; another the Dance of the Flag; another the Dance of Feathers; another the Sword Dance; and the last the Dance of Humanity. This was performed only by the Mandarins.