The style of the present qin is known as Fuxi, after the mythological king who was reputed to have made the first musical instrument from the wutong tree. Compare with a "pearl-string" type constructed with scallop-edge sides known as the Xianlai qin, 'The Voice of Angels', dated to the late Northern Song dynasty, illustrated by K. C. Teo and S. Y. Yip, 'Guqin Entries', 2000 Years of Chinese Lacquer, 1993, Hong Kong, p. 226, no. 110. Cf. also the "Confucius" type which has a more austere design with simple straight sides. Two "Confucius" examples, both dated to the Southern Song period, are illustrated, op. cit., 1993, p. 228, no. 111, bearing the name Lu You Qin, which was probably made for the Southern Song poet Lu You (1125-1210); and Shenhe baiyun qin, 'Harmonising with the Clouds', p. 230, no. 112, which was sold in these Rooms, 3 November 1996, lot 870. A "Fengshi", 'Soaring Phoenix' type, dated to the Tang to Song period, with the poetic name of Wanhe Songtao, Myriad Ravines and Waves of Pine, is illustrated in Emperor Chi'en-lung's Grand Cultural Enterprise, National Palace Museum, p. 48, fig. 1-34.

There are four characters inscribed discreetly below the circular 'dragon pool' sound hole. Each character is arranged at the Four Cardinal points reading: Kaibao Wuchen, which may be translated as 'This precious object (originated) in the Wuchen cyclical year', corresponding to 968AD. The present musical instrument is considered as one of the earliest recorded qin from the Song period since its mark indicates that it was produced in the ninth year of the first Song emperor, Zhao Kuangyin, whose reign title is known as Taizu (r 960-976). Through computed tomography (CT) scans, it is interesting to note that the interior construction of this qin instrument share similar characteristics with those produced in the Tang period, thus establishing a transitional link of styles between the Tang and Song periods.

The underside of the qin bears the square seal, Yushu Zhibao, 'Treasure of the Imperial Library', below the circular 'Dragon Pool'. This appellation indicates that the present qin was among the musical instruments of inspected by either Emperor Taizu himself shortly after the qin was made, or later by one of his successors. As such, it probably follows that the names given: Yuting Qingyun and/or Fugu Dian, were written by the emperor and these were inscribed onto the qin. Although it is not possible to establish an exact period when the name of this qin was given, it perhaps can be no later than the Southern Song period as indicated by the poetic inscriptions that appear on either side of the sound holes ending with: Jiatai yuan nian xinchou Pingyuan laosou Zhou Bida shi, 'Recorded by the old man from Pingyuan, Zhou Bida, in the first year of Jiatai (1201)'. This inscription identifies the influential Song court official Zhou Bida (1126-1204), who was a member of the Hanlin Academy.