National Library of China
Encyclopedia
The National Library of China or NLC in Beijing
is the largest library
in Asia, and one of the largest in the world with a collection of over 23 million volumes. It holds the largest and among the richest worldwide collections of Chinese literature
and historical documents.
The forerunner of the National Library of China, the Capital Library, was founded on 24 April 1909 by the Qing
government. The name of the library was at that time 'The Metropolitan Library' (Jīngshī túshūguǎn, 京师图书馆). It was first formally opened after the Xinhai Revolution
, in 1912. In 1916, the library received depository library status. In July 1928, its name was changed to National Beijing Library and was later changed to the National Library.
The National Library of China's collection inherited books and archives from the "Imperial Wenyuange Library" collection of the Qing Dynasty
and that, in turn, included books and manuscripts from the library of the Southern Song Dynasty
. The library also contains inscribed tortoise shells and bones, ancient manuscripts, and block-printed volumes. Among the most prized collections of the NLC are rare and precious documents and records from past dynasties in Chinese history, and it also houses official publications of the United Nations
and foreign governments and a collection of literature and materials in over 115 languages.
Notable collections and items in the library are:
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
is the largest library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
in Asia, and one of the largest in the world with a collection of over 23 million volumes. It holds the largest and among the richest worldwide collections of Chinese literature
Chinese literature
Chinese literature extends thousands of years, from the earliest recorded dynastic court archives to the mature fictional novels that arose during the Ming Dynasty to entertain the masses of literate Chinese...
and historical documents.
The forerunner of the National Library of China, the Capital Library, was founded on 24 April 1909 by the Qing
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
government. The name of the library was at that time 'The Metropolitan Library' (Jīngshī túshūguǎn, 京师图书馆). It was first formally opened after the Xinhai Revolution
Xinhai Revolution
The Xinhai Revolution or Hsinhai Revolution, also known as Revolution of 1911 or the Chinese Revolution, was a revolution that overthrew China's last imperial dynasty, the Qing , and established the Republic of China...
, in 1912. In 1916, the library received depository library status. In July 1928, its name was changed to National Beijing Library and was later changed to the National Library.
The National Library of China's collection inherited books and archives from the "Imperial Wenyuange Library" collection of the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
and that, in turn, included books and manuscripts from the library of the Southern Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
. The library also contains inscribed tortoise shells and bones, ancient manuscripts, and block-printed volumes. Among the most prized collections of the NLC are rare and precious documents and records from past dynasties in Chinese history, and it also houses official publications of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and foreign governments and a collection of literature and materials in over 115 languages.
Notable collections and items in the library are:
- a collection of over 270,000 ancient and rare Chinese books and historical documents, and over 1,640,000 traditional thread-bound Chinese books
- over 35,000 inscriptions on oracle boneOracle boneOracle bones are pieces of bone normally from ox scapula or turtle plastron which were used for divination chiefly during the late Shang Dynasty. The bones were first inscribed with divination in oracle bone script by using a bronze pin, and then heated until crack lines appeared in which the...
s and tortoise shells from the Shang DynastyShang DynastyThe Shang Dynasty or Yin Dynasty was, according to traditional sources, the second Chinese dynasty, after the Xia. They ruled in the northeastern regions of the area known as "China proper" in the Yellow River valley...
(c. 16th–11th century BC) - more than 16,000 volumes of precious historical Chinese documents and manuscripts from the Mogao CavesMogao CavesThe Mogao Caves or Mogao Grottoes , also known as the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas , form a system of 492 temples southeast of the center of Dunhuang, an oasis strategically located at a religious and cultural crossroads on the Silk Road, in Gansu province, China...
in DunhuangDunhuangDunhuang is a city in northwestern Gansu province, Western China. It was a major stop on the ancient Silk Road. It was also known at times as Shāzhōu , or 'City of Sands', a name still used today... - copies of Buddhist sutraSutraSūtra is an aphorism or a collection of such aphorisms in the form of a manual. Literally it means a thread or line that holds things together and is derived from the verbal root siv-, meaning to sew , as does the medical term...
s dating to the 6th century - old maps, diagrams, and rubbings from ancient inscriptions on metal and stone
- rare copies of ancient manuscripts and books of Five Dynasties periods, including a large number of ancient manuscript volumes on different subjects
- books and archives from imperial libraries dating to the Southern Song DynastySong DynastyThe Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
(c. 1127) - the most complete surviving Ming DynastyMing DynastyThe Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
copies of the Yongle EncyclopediaYongle EncyclopediaThe Yongle Encyclopedia was a Chinese compilation of information commissioned by the Chinese Ming Dynasty emperor Yongle in 1403 and completed by 1408...
("Great Canon of the Yongle Era") - a copy of the Siku QuanshuSiku QuanshuThe Siku Quanshu, variously translated as the Imperial Collection of Four, Emperor's Four Treasuries, Complete Library in Four Branches of Literature, or Complete Library of the Four Treasuries, is the largest collection of books in Chinese history and probably the most ambitious editorial...
("Complete Library of the Four Branches of Literature") of the Qing Dynasty - essential literary and books collection from Qing Dynasty's imperial colleges and renowned private collectors
See also
- Libraries in the People's Republic of China
- Shanghai LibraryShanghai LibraryShanghai Library is the second largest library in China after the National Library of China in Beijing. It is located in Shanghai, China. At 24 stories and 348 feet tall, it is the tallest library in the world...
- Nanjing LibraryNanjing LibraryNanjing Library is the third largest library in China with over 7 million items. It houses important scientific, cultural and arts literature relating to Jiangsu province and other national historical records such as ancient Chinese and foreign publications...
- List of libraries
- List of national libraries
- Chinese Library ClassificationChinese Library ClassificationThe Chinese Library Classification , also known as Classification for Chinese Libraries , is effectively the national library classification scheme in China. It is used in almost all primary and secondary schools, universities, academic institutions, as well as public libraries...
(CLC) - Archives in the People's Republic of China
External links
- National Library of China (official website)
- National Digital Library of China - Electronic Resources