The most noteworthy work in the history of music theory appeared in the Ming Dynasty, The Complete Book of Music Law, which was an elaborate work by Zhu Zaiyu in the Ming Dynasty. In the Complete Book of Music Law, he expounded his own theoretical system of "New Music Law", that is, the twelve-average law. The law of twelve averages has been applied in music practice, but only then has a systematic theoretical explanation appeared, which is the earliest in China and the world. In addition, in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, another contribution to music was the development of notation since the Tang and Song Dynasties-Miyachi notation.
Since the early years of the Republic of China, Liu Tianhua, a national musician, has made outstanding achievements in the professional creation and performance of erhu. The blind Jian Bing's erhu music "Two Springs Reflecting the Moon" and his pipa music have reached a high level in artistic conception and playing skills. During this period, instrumental ensembles appeared again, such as Bamboo in the South of the Yangtze River and Yueyue Music.