By Sim Chuin Peng

 

In the heart of NUS lies a hidden gem of literary heritage: the Wan Boo Sow Chinese Library (雲茂潮中文图书馆), home to an extraordinary collection of 170,000 ancient thread-bound books. It’s origins began in 1953 when the University of Malaya embarked on a mission to expand its Chinese literature holdings. Fueled by a generous $250,000 donation from Mr Yeap Chor Ee (叶祖意), the visionary founder of Ban Hin Lee Bank in Penang, the university dispatched Dr Ho Kuang-chung (贺光中), the then-Head of the Department of Chinese Studies, to Hong Kong and Japan. On these expeditions, Dr Ho curated a remarkable selection of Yuan and Ming editions and Ming-era manuscripts. 

By October 1954, the library’s collection had expanded by 40,000 volumes of primarily ancient texts, bringing the total to approximately 130,000 volumes. Dr Ho proudly declared this collection as the finest in Southeast Asia and one of the top globally outside of China (Ho, 1954). Esteemed scholars, including Qian Mu (钱穆), who visited in 1956, lauded the library for its extensive and meticulously curated volumes, solidifying its status as a beacon of knowledge and cultural heritage (钱穆, 1956). Predominantly composed of thread-bound books, the collection serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of Chinese literature.

Over the years, the library has continued to grow, incorporating contributions from the former University of Singapore, the former Nanyang University, and generous private donations. These materials have been instrumental in advancing academic research and teaching in Chinese Studies, forming the cornerstone of the university’s comprehensive programme in this field. 

Dr Ho Kuang-chung envisioned a detailed catalogue of this magnificent collection, intending to compile it into three volumes. While he successfully completed the first volume, Catalogue of the Chinese Collection of the University of Malaya Library (马来亚大学中文图书目录) in 1956, and the second volume, Catalogue of the Chinese Collection of the University of Singapore Library (新加坡大学中文图书目录 in 1965, the third volume, unfortunately, remained unfinished, leaving a tantalizing glimpse into a world of knowledge yet to be fully revealed. 

In 2017, a comprehensive cataloguing effort was launched with significant input from Professor Li Guoqing of the Ohio State University Library. He coordinated The General Catalogue of Overseas Ancient Chinese Books project, part of a long-term strategy by Zhonghua Book Company (Beijing) to document and catalogue ancient Chinese book collections worldwide. By 2021, this effort resulted in the publication of the Catalogue of Pre-Republican Chinese Books at the National University of Singapore Libraries, the first in a series dedicated to university libraries in Asia. Other catalogues in this series in NUS Libraries’ holding can be found here.  

This extensive catalogue, spanning 1,482 pages, details 3,579 ancient Chinese books, including 603 rare editions published before 1796 and 2,994 regular editions from 1796 to 1911. Some books originated from Japan (131), Korea (4), and Vietnam (1), with two in the Manchurian language. The catalogue is divided into two volumes, the first covering 217 rare books and the second documenting 386 rare and 2,294 regular books. The books are organized according to the Chinese classification system for rare books: 经 Jing (the Classics), 史 Shi (the Histories), 子 Zi (the Philosophers), 集 Ji (the Literary Collections), 类丛 Lei Cong (the Series), and 新学类 Xin Xue Lei (the New Subjects). 

Each entry provides comprehensive details such as titles, authors, editions, volumes, layout, ownership stamps, copies, notes, and call numbers, facilitating identification and access to specific research resources. This thorough documentation supports academic rigor by enabling precise citations and reliable navigation of the library’s vast collection. The first volume also includes block format information and images of the first page, enhancing research and study by providing visual insights into the physical attributes of the books, such as binding, illustrations, and text layout. 

The cataloguing project not only updated previously incomplete records but also strengthened the library’s collaborative potential with other institutions, promoting resource sharing and joint research initiatives. In 2020, NUS Libraries joined the Union Catalog of Rare Books Database (中文古籍联合目录) established by the National Central Library of Taiwan, contributing bibliographic data for approximately 700 rare ancient books. This initiative increased the visibility of the NUS Libraries’ rare book holdings and addressed scholars’ concerns about the preservation status of books acquired by the University of Malaya’s library in the past. The union catalogue compiles ancient book collections from libraries across Mainland China, Asia, Europe, and America, currently encompassing over 840,000 bibliographic entries of Chinese ancient books. 

The collection boasts notable additions, such as a hand-written edition of 《史记》(The Records of the Grand Historian) from the early Ming dynasty. Another significant publication is the block-print Yuan edition of the Collected Writings of Han Yu  (朱文公校昌黎先生文集). These two examples underscore the historical depth and diversity of the library’s holdings. It also includes several two-colour printed editions in black and red, reflecting unique printing techniques of the era, and is enriched by Japanese, Korean and Manchu editions, illustrating the region’s cross-cultural exchanges and influences. These diverse materials provide researchers with a broad spectrum of resources for studying the evolution of print culture and textual transmission across various periods and cultures. 

Professor Li Guoqing, who was instrumental in the cataloguing of ancient texts, also conducted an in-depth study of seals on Chinese ancient books in the NUS Libraries’ collection. His articles, such as The Legend of the Ma Kiam Library (老学斋藏书西传考) and Ex Libris Seals of Guangdong Book Collectors Seen at Singapore and North American Libraries (海外所见近代广东藏书印汇考), offer valuable insights into the transmission and circulation of Chinese ancient books within the NUS Libraries. 

Ancient Chinese thread-bound books remain highly relevant to research in Chinese Studies today due to their rich historical, cultural, and scholarly significance. They serve as primary sources offering insights into the classic, historical, literary, and philosophical traditions of ancient China, crucial for understanding the evolution of Chinese intellectual thought and cultural development. Their unique binding and printing techniques provide material evidence of historical practices in bookmaking and dissemination. Studying ownership stamps and circulation patterns, as highlighted in Professor Li Guoqing’s research, reveals the journey of these texts across different regions and communities, shedding light on social and cultural interactions of the time. As vessels of knowledge and tradition, these books are indispensable for scholars exploring continuities and transformations within Chinese intellectual history and cultural heritage, ensuring that past lessons and legacies continue to inform contemporary thought and scholarship. 

 

References 

Ho, K.C. (1954). University’s Chinese library will be one of the world’s finest. The Straits Times, 16 November 1954, Page 6. 

University of Malaya (Singapore). Library. (1956). Catalogue of the Chinese collection of the University of Malaya Library (马来亚大学中文图书目录). Singapore: University of Malaya Press. 

University of Singapore. Library. (1965). Catalogue of the Chinese collection of the University of Singapore Library (新加坡大学中文图书目录). Singapore: University of Singapore Press. 

李国庆. (2018). 老学斋藏书西传考. 图书馆杂志, 3(8), 107-114, 121. 

李国庆. (2022). 海外所见近代广东藏书印汇考. 图书馆论坛, 42(12), 32-47. 

李国庆. (2022). 海外所见近代浙江藏书家印鉴考. 图书馆研究与工作, (1), 30-43. 

邱克威 (Khoo, K. U.). (2020). 马来西亚人文与社会科学学报, 9(2), 1-42.  

沈俊平, & 高斌. (2021). 新加坡国立大学图书馆中文古籍目录. 中华书局. 

林鸿图. (1971). 星大中文图书馆藏书的特色. 星洲日报, 1971年1月1日，44版. 

南洋商报. (1953). 马来亚大学中文学系聘贺光中博士主持，职位为高级讲师. 南洋商报, 1953年4月25日，5版. 

南洋商报. (1953). 马来亚大学中文系将不收外间新生，代主任贺光中赴港日购书籍. 南洋商报, 1953年8月29日，7版. 

南洋商报. (1953). 贺光中博士回星代马大购书约共二十万元. 南洋商报, 1953年10月9日，6版. 

南洋商报. (1953). 贺光中将演讲马大中文藏书. 南洋商报, 1953年11月30日，6版. 

南洋商报. (1957). 马大中文藏书十余万册，编成目录三巨册. 南洋商报, 1957年1月5日，7版. 

高斌. (2022). 新加坡国立大学图书馆中文古籍收藏史及藏书情况. 馬來西亞漢學刊, (6), 137-154.  

钱穆. (1956). 我来马大中文系讲学后之感想. 南洋商报, 1956年6月10日，6版.