NLC Rare Books Highlights

The National Library of China (NLC) houses an impressive array of collections, particularly the collection of ancient and rare Chinese books. The "Highlights of Rare Books and Special Collections from the National Library of China" showcases 42 selected treasures from the NLC in five broad categories, namely "Rare Books", "Dunhuang Documents", "Epigraphic and Pictorial Rubbings", "Maps and Atlases" and "Texts and Illustrations from China's Ethnic Minorities". Through this online exhibition, readers may catch a glimpse of ancient Chinese civilisation and gain a deeper understanding of the Chinese culture.

"Rare books" refers to books of a high heritage, artistic and academic value. The Zhaocheng Jin Zang (Zhaocheng Jin Tripitaka) from the Jin dynasty is a rare treasure. It depicts the propagation and popularity of Buddhism in Northern China and the remarkable woodblock printing technique at that time. Other highlights include the world-acclaimed Yongle Dadian (Yongle Encyclopedia), Tiangong Kaiwu (The Exploitation of Nature Works) and Siku Quanshu (Complete Library of the Four Treasuries).

"Dunhuang Documents" refer to ancient literature found at Dunhuang as well as the other sites in China and Central Asia. They include official and private writings, religious canon, Chinese classic works and non-Chinese documents. Exhibits such as Lao Zi Yi Shu (Commentary of Dao De Jing), Bian Wang Lun (An Argument on Demise) and The Diamond Prajna-paramita Sutra from the Tang Dynasty are highly regarded as top-notch Dunhuang documents.

"Jin" refers to metal products such as zhong (bell) and ding (cauldron), whereas "shi" is the inscription on stone tablets. Ancient Chinese started to incise or write on turtle shells, animal bones, bronze objects and stones as early as the pre-Qin period. They also invented the rubbing technique to reproduce the image of text and graphics on incised objects with the aid of paper, ink and rubbing tools. The end product is called a "tapian" (rubbing). The collection displays, among others, a rubbing edition of Han Junche Huaxiang (Illustration of a Han Dynasty Procession) which depicts vividly the procession of chariots in the Han dynasty, and a rubbing edition of Shence Jun Bei (Inscription to Commemorate the Emperor's Inspection Tour to the Left Shen-Ce Forces) by the great calligrapher Liu Gongquan of the Tang dynasty.

"Yutu" is the equivalent of the present "maps and atlases". The earliest record of Chinese cartography can be dated back to the early years of the Western Zhou dynasty in the 11th century BC. The "Maps and Atlases" Collection features a range of fine maps and atlases from the Ming and Qing dynasties, including Yudi Tu (Map of Imperial Territories) which clearly shows the political and administrative divisions of the Ming Empire, and Bishu Shanzhuang Quantu (Full Map of the Mountain Resort) from the Qing dynasty which is a dedicated map on Qing's imperial landscape gardening.

The "Texts and Illustrations from China's Ethnic Minorities" Collection contains documents in Dai, Mongolian, Manchu, Tibetan, Sanskrit, Yi, Tangut and Dongba scripts. Highlights include the Imperial Patent of Nobility to the Parents of Yulin (an imperial edict by Emperor Jiaqing written in Manchu and Chinese scripts) from the Qing dynasty, the Narrative Verses of Sariputta from the Abhidhamma-pitaka carved in Dai script in the 19th century, the Annals of the Creation and Twenty-One Hymns to the Rescuer Mother of Buddhas.