It is widely believed among ethnomusicologists throughout the world that Taiwan's nan guan music preserves the ancient Chinese musical style that was common during the Sung and Yuan dynasties (960-1368).
國際民族音樂學界盛傳台灣仍保有從宋元以來，維持中國古老音樂形式的南管，研究會的第一站因此來到台灣。