Saving books from invaders
Updated: 2015-04-28 07:24
By Wang Kaihao(China Daily)
|
|||||||||
Tsien Tsuenhsuin at the University of Chicago's East Asian Library in 1986. He passed away on April 9 in Chicago at the age of 105. [Photo provided To China Daily] |
If not for him, volumes of precious, ancient Chinese books might have been destroyed during World War II.
When he passed away earlier this month, scholars across the Pacific Ocean gathered to pay homage to this witness to history.
The National Library of China in Beijing hosted a commemorative event for Tsien Tsuen-hsuin (better known as Qian Cunxun on the Chinese mainland), who is considered to be one of the greatest scholars of Chinese paleography and bibliography in the last century.
Tsien, 105, passed away on April 9 in Chicago.
"He always called himself a common librarian," says Tsien's student James Cheng, curator of Harvard-Yenching Library, one of the most renowned institutions housing Chinese written classics in the United States, at the commemorative event in NLC. "However, he felt neither humble as a librarian nor arrogant as a widely respected scholar."
When British Sinologist Joseph Needham compiled his masterpiece Science and Civilization in China, he invited Tsien to write a volume on paper and printing.
NLC opened an exhibition last week displaying Tsien's publications, pictures, letters, and manuscripts to reveal his great contribution which is little known by the Chinese public. The 100-odd exhibits give a panoramic review of Tsien's life and highlight his endeavor to protect precious ancient Chinese books during the war.
After Japan occupied Northeast China in 1931, the National Peking Library (predecessor of NLC) decided to transport some key collections of rare classic books to Shanghai in case they fell into occupiers' hands.
However, when Shanghai also got involved in the war in 1937, the library reached an agreement with the Library of Congress to secretly ship the books to the US for preservation.
- International rescue teams head to quake-hit Nepal
- World's deadliest earthquakes since 1900s
- Rescuers deliver relief supplies on foot
- China brings trapped nationals home from quake-hit Nepal
- Severe drought hits Southwest China
- History razed in Nepal earthquake
- 'Chi-pao teachers' found in Guangdong
- Tourists evacuated from Nepal quake area arrive in Kunming
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
What do we know about AIIB |
Full coverage of Boao Forum for Asia |
Annual legislative and political advisory sessions |
Spring Festival trends reflect a changing China |
Patent applications lead the world |
BC lures Chinese tourists |
Today's Top News
Chinese, Koreans seek Japan apology
China rescue team starts work
Three US citizens among dead in avalanche after Nepal quake
Chinese rally across US to support NYC police officer under indictment
New publication will focus on China's energy industry
Abe's US trip: sense or sensibility?
China to overtake US in mobile gaming market
Nearly 2,500 confirmed dead in Nepal quake
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |