In May 2026, the Central Conservatory of Music convened the symposium “Establishing a Chinese Autonomous Knowledge System in Music.” This article provides a systematic review of the conference, centering on three core questions, namely “what to construct, how to construct, and who will construct,” and analyzes them from three dimensions: problem formation, theoretical generation, and scholarly collaboration. The review argues that the key to establishing a Chinese autonomous knowledge system in music lies in elevating local musical experience into theoretically explanatory propositions. Its generative pathway must be grounded in contemporary practice, draw upon traditional resources, and respond to technological change. Collaborative synergy among scholars, academic journals, and emerging researchers constitutes the academic safeguard for such a system-building endeavor. The symposium makes a significant turning point in Chinese music research, moving from issue-oriented responses toward systematic knowledge construction.