National Library of China - English Version (IE5.0 1024×768)

>>Home | Events | Online Exhibitions

·Bastions of Civilization
　Printing is one of the four great inventions of Ancient China. This technology made an extreme contribution to books and records production. It speeds up the documentation of human history. However, many of the records had been worn out under dictatorship, wars and disasters.

·Wenjin Book Awards
　 This award gives our authors encouragement for further contribution to the world of creation. Books as the media of authors, readers and publishers, they are valuable. Good works widen our mind; give us directions.

·We sow, people grow
　The sacred and important mission of the National Library of China is to preserve our ancient outstanding rare books, to play the functions of culture dissemination and community education, to cultivate successors of Chinese culture and to let the flame of civilization continue from generations to generations. Early in the era of National Beiping Library, the Library was committed to provide education and services to the public to offer a channel and opportunity for learning of the people. In the 1950s, many academic lectures from top scholars had also inspired many young people to embark on the path of academic research.

·The Legend of Ba Jin
　 Ba Jin (pseud. of Li Feigan) was one of the most important writers in Chinese literature. The best known of his works is the novel Family, which is regarded as a masterpiece, first published in 1931. Not only to study Chinese literatures, readers are connected with Jin by reading his works. Let's get inside Jin's world.

·Block Printing
　 Block Printing was first developed in China. A special fist knife is the best partner of the artist. At the very beginning, it was a documenting way. But now, it becomes an art. By inventing the printing, wood block printing started blooming in China. In fact you will see those relief stone sculptures of Han Dynasty were well prepared to facilitate Chinese printing.

·Documentations of the War of Resistance Against Japan
　 From 1937 to 1945, under the leadership of the Chinese Communist with the strategy of "anti-Japanese national unification frontline", all people of different races within China had a war against the Japanese Imperialism for the national dependence and liberation. A Tang poem Du Fu said, "A letter is worth more than anything during the continuous war". We can see how much they wish the war could reach to an end. In the War of Resistance Against Japan, which lasted for 8 years, the culture of resistance was being developed in the areas of political, economic, military, education, culture, press, publication, etc.

·Scientific Research in National Library of China
　 Scientific Research is a creative activity to explore the unknown. It motivates our careers, also is an important method to cultivate people. NLC always attends to increase the development of scientific research in order to adapt the expansion of National Library. The Library has started the comprehensive scientific research around 1978.

·Rare Books in the NLC
　 The National Library of China is said to be the one that collects the most and invaluable Chinese materials in the world. After the establishment of the Library for near 100 years, royal collections, civil collections, materials which encountered robberies, archaeological artifacts unearthed, and materials that published contemporarily altogether form a huge library collections of about 24,500,000 volumes gradually. In particular, the rare books collections are famous for reflecting the trajectory of 5,000 years of civilization of China by its classics, representing the best collections of the National Library of China. The Library holds near 300,000 volumes of rare books, more than 700,000 pieces of special collections, and near 2,000,000 volumes of ordinary rare books.

·Architecture Blueprints in Qing Dynasty
　 Lei family is the famous royal architects in Qing dynasty. They are named respectfully of "Yang Shi Lei". As the outstanding representatives in the ancient history of science, the created architectures include city, palace, garden, temple, grave, house, factory, school etc. Accordingly, there are almost 2 million pieces of architecture blueprints stored in National Library of China, History Archive of China and The Palace Museum. The blueprints consist of the building site, design of urban planning etc.

·National Treasures from World's Great Libraries
　 To celebrate the Centennial of Australia, the National Library of Australia has organized an exhibition, National Treasures from World's Great Libraries from 7 December 2001 to 24 February 2002. China and the other 31 countries were invited in this event. NLC has provided 11 valuable items for exhibition. This exhibition is a non-profit making activity, which has a great effect on the universal.

·Documentations of Xixia
　 In the 20th century, there are many spectacular researches in Humanities, such as the well-known study of oracle-bone-script, the study of Dunhuang, and the study of Xixia which are being concerned in recent years. Xixia, also known as the "Da Xia Guo", is a dynasty in the Chinese history. It has ruled the northwestern region for near two centuries. It fought against "Bei Song"and "Liao"in the early stage, while in the later stage it was in a situation of tripartite confrontation with "Nan Song"and "Jin". There were altogether ten emperors in the Xixia Dynasty. The governmental official system was similar to the Song Dynasty. It has also invented words and possessed decrees and regulations system. It finally was conquered by "Meng". Systematic researches on Xixia Study start after the plentiful discovery of Xixia documentations in the 20th century.