Chinese books have been part of the Bodleian Libraries’ collections since the Library’s foundation in 1602. The first known acquisition of a Chinese book dates to 1604. Sir Thomas Bodley was instrumental in starting this collection, even though he did not speak or understand Chinese. His handwriting appears in the 1604 book.
The collection has grown to become one of the most significant Chinese rare book and manuscript collections outside China. As part of a ten-year project funded by Chung Hon Dak Foundation, we have digitised over 1,800 items, making them available to a wide online audience.
In this project, we worked with H D Chung Chinese Studies Librarian, Mamti Sunuondula, Boya Zhang of the East Asia Section, and members of the local Chinese community to explore some treasures of the Chinese collections in six ‘show-and-tell’ sessions during autumn 2023. These sessions covered themes such as Treasures of Chinese Collections, Divination: Book of Change and The Dragon Across Cultures, and enabled 126 visitors to engage first-hand with the collections. The sessions also provided a valuable opportunity to engage community members with other elements of the Bodleian’s Public Engagement programme, including nominating books for the Space for Reading, and signing up with the volunteer service of the University's Gardens, Libraries and Museums to support the Spring Festival event.
Celebrating Chinese culture for Spring Festival in February 2024 enabled community members to bring aspects of Chinese culture to a wider audience. The beginning of the year of the Dragon in the Chinese calendar was an auspicious time for this event, marking 420 years since the Bodleian’s acquisition of its first Chinese book. The event featured an academic lecture on Divination by Prof. Lai Tsz Pang John, an art workshop on dragon drawing with Dr Weimen He. Family-friendly crafts included lantern and mask making. There were inspiring performances of Chinese music from the Oxford Chinese Orchestra (OCO) and dance from PhoenOx Chinese Dance Society. The relationship established with OCO developed into a concert by a solo musician as part of the Oxford Literary Festival programme.
Some volunteers were community session participants or students who signed up to share their cultural heritage such as by teaching Chinese calligraphy and games (Mahjong and Go) to visitors. Thirteen volunteers contributed to the highly successful Spring Festival event, which received nearly 700 visitors.
Explore the Bodleian Chinese collections.
