‘伶工’ (líng gōng) is a historical term referring to professional musicians, dancers, and performers employed by imperial courts or aristocratic households in pre-modern China—especially during the Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties. The character 伶 originally denoted performers or actors, often with connotations of artistic skill and social marginality; 工 means ‘artisan’ or ‘craftsman’, emphasizing technical mastery and occupational specialization. Together, 伶工 highlights the dual identity of these figures: artists trained in rigorous traditions yet formally attached to court institutions.

This term appears mainly in classical literature, historical records, and scholarly discussions of traditional Chinese performing arts. It is not used in modern daily speech—it carries strong historical and literary resonance, evoking the world of palace banquets, ritual music (yayue), and elite entertainment. Unlike generic terms like 演员 (actor) or 音乐家 (musician), 伶工 specifically signals institutional affiliation, hierarchical status, and pre-20th-century cultural context.