According to popular legend, China's ancient court music was first brought to southern Fujian by Wang Shen-zhi, a marquis who ruled over the region during the late Tang dynasty and was fond of throwing banquets where court music was played.
南管是一種流傳於閩南地區的古老樂種，相傳是唐朝末年的閩王王審知，因為喜好慶宴，而將宮廷音樂帶入閩南。