@@MarcThorman Not really, there is Taoism as religion, which is a later thing, and Taoist thought which is its own thing in itself, philosophy if you like. But this opinion that I hold is in debate within academic circles. As to the original question of whether this music is religious, I think the answer for many listeners would be a reassuring 'no' as it is neither about devotion to some deity nor used for religious practices. Such music is often contemplative and a means to transcend the mundane, but that is something that humans do with music. Drinking tea can be(come) a religious thing, but if you're just drinking tea and partaking in an experience beyond your usual or 'mundane' self, that's not religious, that's just really enjoying yourself enjoying tea. No deities, rituals etc. unless you've invited those into your experience. If tea won't be bound by religion, qin music certainly won't be either.
