Rare Books
Siku Quanshu (Complete Library of Four Treasuries)
Manuscript of Qing Dynasty; copy originally kept in the Wenjin Chamber of the Mountain Resort.
The Siku Quanshu compiled during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty is the largest collection of books in Chinese history. The books are divided into four parts, namely Jing ("Classics": Chinese classic text), Shi ("Histories": Chinese histories and geographies), Zi ("Masters": Chinese philosophy, arts and sciences) and Ji ("Collections": anthologies of Chinese literature). The complete set of books gives a comprehensive summary of Chinese ancient culture and plays an important role in the cultural history of China.