It is said that government officials played nanguan music for the emperor Kangxi on his 60th birthday in the early 18th century, and the emperor's effusive praise propelled nanguan to an exalted status.
傳說在清康熙皇帝六十大壽時，曾有大學士以南管為皇帝祝壽，皇帝大悅，於是賜給南管一個「御前清音」的封號，種種傳說，使得南管成為一種高尚音樂的嚮往與指標。