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Asia is one of the well-springs of ancient world civilization, the thinking and wisdom engendered on its soil have not only long forged its way of life, laws and institutions, but influenced all of humanity.

In the beginning, these thoughts and wisdom were mostly passed down by word of mouth, but written records were eventually, gradually adopted and compiled into books, which became revered as scriptures, and passed down from generation to generation. To get to know these scriptures is therefore undoubtedly the most direct and effective way to understand Asia.

This exhibition first chooses scriptures from four of Asia’s most influential and still flourishing cultural systems – Confucian School, Taoist School, Buddhism and Islam. Apart from observing their essential meanings and viewing them as guides to life, one can also pursue different fusions and synergies in their various texts, while their decorative splendor, and the preciousness of the materials from which they were made, as well as the great reverence in which they are held and the piety with which their adherents believe and for which they are renowned, all crafted the aesthetic tastes and book manufacturing techniques of different regions and times.

In sum, the scriptures constitute philosophies that provide guidance in life and more; works of art that do more than please the eye and ear.

The thoughts of the Confucian School were developed by Confucius during the Spring and Autumn period, and hold, “ren,” (benevolence) to be the highest standard of virtue, and that peace may be brought to the universe by the cultivation of moral character, the appropriate governance of the family, and similarly appropriate governance of the state, whereby the ideal of a world of, “great harmony,” may be attained. After the Emperor Han Wu-ti gave particular prominence to the Confucian school, its teachings and sayings became the mainstream of Chinese thought, and were disseminated far and wide, in such countries as Korea, Japan, and Vietnam, becoming one of East Asia’s most influential schools of thought. Its main texts are the Four Books, the Six Classics, the Nine Classics, the Thirteen Classics, and so on.

The Taoist school is a Chinese school of philosophy, while religious Taoism is a religion indigenous to China. Both spread during the T’ang dynasty to Korea and Japan, and, during the Ming and Ch’ing periods Chinese emigrants took them throughout south-east Asia.

The Taoist philosophers of the early Ch’in, represented by Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu, held that all things originated in the Tao, “the Way,” and that man should follow the Way and pursue spiritual and natural purity. Religious Taoism developed during the later stages of the Han dynasty, using such methods as alchemy, Tao-yin（gymnastic exercise）, breath training, breatharianism to achieve longevity and immortality, and, indeed, “to ascend to the realm of the immortal.” The classics of religious Taoism exhibited on this occasion include the Huang-t’ing ching and the Taoist Classic of the Great One of Purity.

Buddhism is a religion that was established in the fifth century BC by the Indian, Śākyamuni. It is one of the three great religions of the world. Its followers are spread throughout East and South Asia. It advocates the practice of “the four noble truths” and “the six Pāramitās”, to get rid of suffering, receive happiness, and attain the Buddhahood. The Buddhist scriptures consists of Tripiaka in different languages. Those exhibited on this occasion include the Myanmar palm-leaf manuscripts of Theravāda Buddhism, Chinese and Tangut Buddhist classics of Chinese Buddhism, and Tibetan bkav-vgyur of Tibetan Buddhism.

Islam was founded by Mohammed (570-632) in the seventh century on the Arabian Peninsula, and calls for belief in the view that there is no god but God (Allah), and requires followers to hold “the Six Articles of Belief” and practice “the Five Pillars of Islam”. Not long after Islam was established it spread in all directions. Currently its followers extend all over north Africa, western Asia, central Asia, southern Asia, south-east Asia, China and so on. The most important classic of Islam is Al-Qur’an. In this exhibition we exhibit original text of Al-Qur’an, interpreted manuscript as well as artifacts inscribed with words from the text.