On December 15th, 2020, "The Thousands of Flowers in the Book Mansion-The Special Exhibition of National Rare Ancient Books Collected in Chongqing" opened in the Exhibition Hall of Chongqing Library. In this exhibition, more than 50 of the 274 rare ancient books selected in the "National Catalog of Rare Ancient Books" in Chongqing are selected for detailed introduction, and 150 original books of rare ancient books are displayed in batches. This is the highest-level exhibition of ancient books held in Chongqing so far.

On December 15th, "The Thousands of Flowers in the Book House-Special Exhibition of National Rare Ancient Books Collected in Chongqing" was launched at Chongqing Library.

Many of the treasures of ancient books in the exhibition were only discovered in recent years. It is understood that the Chongqing Library (Chongqing Ancient Books Protection Center) has completed the description, revision and publication of more than 45,000 ancient books and more than 635,000 ancient books in 43 ancient book collection units in the city in 10 years.

While finding out the family status of ancient books in Chongqing, a large number of rare and precious ancient books were discovered. Up to now, 274 ancient books in Chongqing have been selected into the "National Catalog of Precious Ancient Books", of which Chongqing Library accounts for 222. Chongqing Library, Beibei Library, Southwest University Library, and Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum have been named "National Key Protected Units of Ancient Books".

The curator of Chongqing Library Ren Jing said that this special exhibition is a comprehensive display of the precious national ancient books in our city. Its high specifications and large numbers are the first in Chongqing history.

Stepping into the exhibition hall, you will first see the treasures of Chongqing Library, such as the Tang manuscript "Great Prajna Paramita Sutra", and the Southern Song Dynasty carved edition "Famous Officials Additions to Mark Sui Book Detailed Festival".

"The Great Prajna Paramita Sutra" Volume 30.

"Famous Officials' Additional Revisions to Mark Sui Book Detailed Sections" is small and exquisite. If you look closely, you will find that the unfolded books are covered with the seals of many scholars and bibliophiles. Zuo Peng, a librarian from the Special Collections Center of Chongqing Library, said that this Southern Song block-printed copy is the epitome of many bibliophiles from ancient and modern ages who have worked hard to preserve documents.

"Famous Public Revisions Mark Sui Book Detailed Sections"

The collection of ancient books in the Chongqing Library is mainly through extensive collection and reception, active procurement and acquisition, and acceptance of public and private donations. "Famous Officials Additions to Mark Sui Book Details Section" is a typical example of accepting donations. After the founding of New China, the famous bibliophile Mr. Li Wenheng donated all his collection of more than 40,000 books to the Southwest People's Library (one of the predecessors of Chongqing Library) Among them, there are more than 37,000 copies of wired ancient books, and this block edition is among them.

It is understood that the Ming Dynasty was a glorious period in the history of ancient Chinese books. Among the ancient books in Chongqing included in the "National Catalog of Precious Ancient Books", there were as many as 238 Ming printed editions.

"A Letter of Advising Empress Daming Renxiao"

The two hundred volumes of "General History" on display in the exhibition attracted the attention of reporters. In the unfolded part of this ancient book, you can see the slender handwritten characters and the ink penetrating from the printed text on the back.

"General History"

"This set of ancient books has 120 volumes, a total of about 14,000 pages, of which more than 5,000 pages were printed on official paper during the Hongzhi period of the Ming Dynasty." Zuo Peng said that in order to save paper at that time, he used the paper from the official archives discarded by the government. Printed on the back, "These official documents are the most primitive documents and cultural treasures worth studying."

"Ru Tie"

Ancient Chinese woodcut prints developed to the most prosperous period in the Ming Dynasty, and "The New Spectacle of the Sea" was hailed as "the representative work of Ming Dynasty landscape prints." "This ancient book is called the'National Tour Guide's Guide in the Late Ming Dynasty', reflecting the prosperity of the commodity economy and the richness of citizens' lives in the late Ming Dynasty. There is also the'Three Gorges Picture' in the book, which shows that the Three Gorges has always been sought after by scholars." Zuo Peng said. The "Three Gorges Map" is printed with words and patterns such as Baidi City, Qutang Gorge, and Wu Gorge, making people feel the beautiful scenery of the Three Gorges.

"Yuefu Poetry Collection"

Ancient books in minority languages are also on display. The Buddhist scriptures in Dai script "Jinda Tadu" and the Dongba script "The Origin of Mankind and the Origin of Migration" used for sacrifice by the Naxi people are very distinctive.

"Minar Tadu"

It is reported that this exhibition is sponsored by the National Library (National Ancient Books Protection Center) and the Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism, and undertaken by Chongqing Library (Chongqing Ancient Books Protection Center). It is free for one month. Editor/He Yuting