Rare record of early Chinese music notation identified

The value of an ancient Chinese book collected by Cambridge University might not have been recognized, had it not been for the discerning eyes of a visiting Chinese scholar. The book stored in Cambridge for more than two hundred years, has been identified as a rare record of early Chinese music.

The book was brought to England in 1804 by James Inman who donated it to St John's College. Believed to have been printed around 1770, it contains an introduction to Chinese instruments related to the lute, flute and recorder. It's significance was identified by Dr. Jian Yang, a scholar who says it offers a "chance to learn more about Chinese culture and music, after 210 years of silence".