Treasures among Books

Books originally were meant to collect and transmit ideas and information in written form. Ancient books, however, often possess unique forms of printing and binding different from modern texts. Combined with the fragility of paper and difficulty of preservation, ancient books not only became collectibles, but also quite limited in number. Therefore, whether respected as historical objects, admired as works of craftsmanship, or valued for their monetary worth, rare books increasingly came to the attention of scholars and occupy an important niche in the antiques market. The T'ien-lu lin-lang Library comprised rare books spanning five dynasties--the Sung, Liao, Chin, Yüan, and Ming. The range of books was also equally impressive, including many sole surviving copies. These books not only demonstrate the refined techniques of Chinese printing and bookbinding through the ages, they also testify to the period significance and historical evolution of book production in China. The "T'ien-lu lin-lang" library books seen today are comprised mainly of those catalogued in the Chia-ch'ing Emperor's Imperially Endorsed Continuation of the T'ien-lu Lin-lang Catalogue. This section of the exhibition focuses on rare books in this catalogue, selecting editions of period or regional significance to present treasures of rare books from the "T'ien-lu lin-lang" imperial Ch'ing library.

Arithmetical Classic of the Gnomon and Circular Paths

Annotated by Chao Ying, Han dynasty
Phonetics and explanations by Li Chi, T'ang dynasty
Handwritten copy of the K'ang-hsi reign (1662-1722) of a 1213 recarving from the Chi-ku Pavilion Library of Mr. Mao from a Yüan-feng (1078-1085) Directorate imprint by Pao Huan-chih of T'ing-chou (one of seven imperially inscribed classics on mathematics), Ch'ing dynasty

The Ch’ien-lung Emperor regards valuable rare book as same as connoisseurs for ancient painting and calligraphy. He often remarked on rare books which regarded as the best curiosity in T’ien-lu lin-lang Catalogue collected books. Arithmetical Classic of the Gnomon and Circular Paths is the first arithmetical book and also is a astronomical book in nowadays. It also has the handwriting of Ch’ien-lung Emperor on front page. This book is Chi-ku Pavilion Library of Mr. Mao got the 7 kinds of “Arithmetic” (算經) from three book collectors - Mr. Wang Shi-chen (王世貞), Li, K’ai-hsien (李開先), Huang Yü-t’ai Huang (黃俞邰). All of them are re-carved by Pao Huan-chih (鮑澣之) with symmetric calligraphy and painting, masterly chase and even stored it in portrayal. As the imitate skill of Mr. Mao is elaborately, bookstore named it as “Mao Chao” (毛鈔).

Commentaries on the Classic of the Spring and Autumn Annals

Written by Tu Yü, Chin dynasty
Imprint by the envoy of Fu-chou in the Ch'un-hsi (1174-1189) reign with additions by the Chiang-yin Prefecture in the Ch'ien-tao (1165-1173) reign of the Sung dynasty and recarving by Yüeh of Hsiang-t'ai , Ming dynasty (1368-1644)

Commentaries on the Classic of the Spring and Autumn Annals of Mr. Tu Yü, Chin dynasty was combined Classic and Annals and let The Commentary of Tso as a theme work to expound Spring and Autumn Annals. It released the stereotype of sentences in ancient books and still has the meaning of hermeneutic. The Commentaries on the Classic of the Spring and Autumn Annals got the orthodox school position of Classical Cannons gradually after Sui and Tang dynasty. This book is replenished and combined by 3 different engravings, one is the envoy of Fu-chou edition in the Ch’un-hsi reign of the Sung dynasty; the second one is the Chiang-yin Prefecture edition in the Ch’ien-tao reign of the Sung dynasty; the third one is Volume 29 that is private school engraving of Ching-hsi by Mr. Yüeh of Hsiang-t’ai , Ming dynasty.

Six Writings by Master K'ung

Written by K'ung Ch'uan, Sung dynasty
1166 Ch'üan-chou imprint by Han Chung-t'ung, Sung dynasty

The meaning of Six Writings by Master K’ung is K’ung Ch’uan, Sung dynasty, imitated Six Writings by Master Pai (Pai Chü-i白居易), Tang dynasty. He kept the words of allusion, good sentence of poem from books of Tang dynasty and categorized them in a book. The original book name is New Book Six Writings but posterity changed the name to Six Writings by Master K’ung as it was continued from Six Writings by Master Pai. The original book was finished at beginning when Royal house of Sung dynasty moved to southern, Shao-hsing, and stared to engrave in 1166 which is the first engraving of this book. Publishers combined both editions - Six Writings by Master Pai and Six Writings by Master K’ung during the last years of South Sung dynasty. So, all of bookshops only have the combined edition, no single edition after Yüan & Ming dynasty. This book is only collected in The Catalogue Wen-yüan Pavilion and Imperially Endorsed Continuation of the T’ien-lu Lin-lang Catalogue, it’s a very precious book. The valuable part of this book is the first engraving printed and can be the best master copy to posterity for correction.

Strategies of the Warring States

Annotated by Pao Piao, Sung dynasty
Proofread annotation by Wu Shih-tao, Yüan dynasty
1365 imprint by the P'ing-chiang Circuit Confucian School, Yüan dynasty

This book was proofread annotation by Wu Shih-tao, Yüan dynasty from the Strategies of the Warring States annotated by Pao Piao, Sung dynasty and made it easier to be understood those histories of persuader’s sales talk and tact during Warring States to Qin, Han dynasty. The focus engraving of Yüan dynasty is in the Circuit Confucian School and college in every region of whole country. Each has the importance on academic research & engraving, knew as delicacy. The government of Yüan dynasty promoted education systematically. There is Imperial Academy in the national central institute, set the Development of Confucianism and school in each circuit, prefecture and county. The main budget source for engraving book of Confucianism was from the income of school farm. To compare with other dynasties, the quality of the engraving book is the best. So, it received the favor and favorable comments from scholar-officials and scholars throughout the dynasties. This writing is one of representative editions of Confucian school.

General Study of Documents

Written by Ma Tuan-lin, Yüan dynasty
1324 edition of the West Lake Academy with Yüan and Ming dynasty repairs, Yüan dynasty

General Study of Documents is an important reference book to study laws and regulations of Sung dynasty, finished in 1307. This book is the most famous edition of West Lake Academy of Hang-chou in Yüan dynasty, the script is featly, layout is aesthetic, imprint and engraving are refined. It really could be a representative edition of Yüan dynasty. The book engraving is still stored in West Lake Academy to be preserved and reprint easier. So, the block-printed edition can be circulated more widely.

Complete Collection of Commentary Meanings to the Chou Book of Changes

Written by Hu Kuang et al. on imperial commission, Ming dynasty
Complete edition from imprints of the Five Classics and Four Books by the Cheng-te (1506-1521) inner court, Ming dynasty

There are a lot of exegetic writings to Chou Book of Changes (周易) in past dynasties. The Most Influenced writings are Ch’eng’s Book of Changes of Ch’eng I, North Sung dynasty and “Original Meaning of the Chou Book of Changes of Chu Hsi, South Sung dynasty. Imperial Academy of Ming dynasty-Bachelor Hu K’uang (胡廣) edited and finished Complete Collection of Commentary Meanings to the Chou Book of Changes with other Bachelors to combine both writings and also adopted annotations from other passed scholars. This book is edition in inner court of the Ming dyansty. The block-printed book in inner court of Ming dynasty was in charged of the Directorate of Ceremonial and main job of the Sutra Printing House was printing books. That is why it also named “Edition of Sutra Printing House”. The block-printed book was printed on white tissue type paper with clear layout, large font size and large space. The custom was followed from beginning to end of Ming dynasty and even influenced to the royal block-printed book in beginning of Ch’ing dynasty.

Explanations in Literary and Philosophical Writings

Written by Wang T'ung, Sui dynasty
Annotated by Juan I and transcribed by Wang Fu-chih, Sung dynasty 1533 imprint on the Six Sages by Mr. Ku's Shih-te Hall in Wu Prefecture, Ming dynasty

Private block-printed books prevailed in Ming dynasty. The category of block-printed books at primary stage is not much and printed quantity also lesser. Private block-printed book was more prosperous gradually after medium term of Ming dynasty, especially during reign of Cheng-te (1506-1522) and Chia-ching (1522-1567) expanded very fast. The information of Six Sages Complete Book of Shih-te Hall was from ancient books, referred to many books, checked meaning with many people, exquisite proofread engraving. It’s a famous engraving, so there are some bibliopoles gouged out the original printed record and faked the block-printed book from Shih-te Hall to sell more money.

Su Shih's Commentary on the Book of Documents

Written by Su Shih, Sung dynasty
Foreword by Ling Meng-ch'u, Ming dynasty Black-and-red set imprint by Mr. Ling of Wu-hsing, Ming dynasty (1368-1644)

Su Shih’s Commentary on the Book of Documents is one of three important writings of Su Shih, The Book of Change, Commentary on the Book of Documents, Essays on Analects of Confucius. It was finished when Su Shih was banished to Tan-chou in 1100. Sheet work printing was prevalent during Ming dynasty. Bookstore used subtle printing technique of overprinting plates to exalt printing quality and get more circulation. One of the period’s representative bookstore owner was Mr. Ling of Wu-hsing. He used black ink to print original article, red ink to print interpunction and comments on book. As Su Shih’s Commentary on the Book of Documents has red remark on head margin, big & sightly typeface of text, it was famous for the engraving edition form which easier to be read by readers.