Recorded in different historical documents in the Tang Dynasty were the 14 melodies and their contents for the Standing and Sitting Court Musicians. All the records were basically identical though some were detailed, but others elliptical. However, no records revealed the accurate date when the “Standing and Sitting Court Musicians” were established. This paper investigated historical cases under a comprehensive historical background by means of historical “internal evidence” and examined historical materials to recognize the general scene of historical evolutions and clarify the dates of historical facts. Finally we conclude that up till the 14th year of the imperial title of Zhenguan, the “Standing and Sitting Court Musicians” had respectively established four melodies by themselves, and thus were qualified basically to establish a separate imperial music department.

the “Sitting Court Musicians” of the Tang Dynasty; the “Standing Court Musicians” of the Tang Dynasty; manner of performance; imperial music department; the date of establishment