美国社会学家帕森斯是“结构功能主义”理论的集大成者,其主要理论把社会看做为一个均衡的有序的和整合的系统。系统中的每一部分都对系统整体的生存,均衡和整合发挥着必不可少的作用,所以笔者认为在遥远的殷商时代,音乐对社会均衡和运行的作用是不可忽视的,本文旨在探讨殷商时期的音乐的社会作用,进而推演到音乐的社会作用。 Parsons, an American sociologist, is a master of “structural functionalism” theory, whose main theory views society as a well-balanced, orderly and integrated system. Every part of the system plays an indispensable role in the survival, balance and integration of the whole system. Therefore, I think that in the distant era of Shang dynasty, the role of music in social balance and operation can not be neglected. This article aims to explore The social role of music in the period of Shang Dynasty and then to the social role of music.