Abstract: Both from the perspectives of classical literature and modern cultural anthropology,dance with musical accompaniment is regarded as the original form of literature and art. This genesis originates from the widespread use of dance with musical accompaniment in primitive witchcraft activities and from the reconstruction of history by modern artistic ideals. In the Chinese classical literature,this origin is revealed by the accounts of the miracles of dance with musical accompaniment,such as the “All Animals Dance” in Yuxia Shu in Shang Shu. Therefore,the study of such miracles has become the key to clarifying the origin of Chinese art history and reconstructing its historical process. As far as Yuxia Shu in Shang Shu is concerned,it is clear that the “All Animals Dance” is a pre-ritual and musical form of Chinese art,which represents the artistic peak that could be achieved in ancient dance with musical accompaniment. Its evolution from witchcraft to ritual music provides an orderly clue to understanding the history of ancient Chinese art,that is,from “interrelationship between music and divine power” to “interrelationship between music with political power”. The relation between the form of dance with musical accompaniment and the system of ancient sacred monarch has led to a result that the dance with musical accompaniment has been regarded by later generations as a manifestation of a bygone golden age,thus being repeatedly recalled and sanctified. In this way,the origin of art history has become its goal for future at the same time.

Key words: Yuxia Shu in Shang Shu, All Animals Dance, golden age, the study of conceptual history