A., of which a description is given elsewhere.*

It would be surprising if a people like the Chinese, who have the literary instinct so strongly developed, had not at an early date found the necessity of those great collections of books which are the means for carrying on the great work of civilization.

China had her first great bibliothecal catastrophe two centuries before the Christian era, when the famous edict for the burning of the books was promulgated. Literature and despotism have never been on very good terms, and the despot of Tsin finding a power at work which was unfavorable to his pretensions, determined to have all books destroyed except those relating to agriculture, divination and the history of his own house. His hatred to books included the makers of them, and the literati have not failed to make his name execrated for his double murders of men and books. When the brief dynasty of Tsin passed, the Princes of Han showed more appreciation of culture, and in 190 B.C. the atrocious edict was repealed, and the greatest efforts made to recover such literary treasures as had escaped the destroyer. Some classics are said to have been rewritten from the dictation of scholars who had committed them to memory. Some robbers broke open the tomb of Seang, King of Wei, who died B.C. 295, and found in it bamboo tablets containing more than 100,000 peen. These included a copy of the Classic of Changes and the Annals of the Bamboo Books, which indeed take their title from this circumstance. This treasure trove was placed in the Imperial Library.f So the Shoo-king is said to have been found in a wall where it had been hidden

* Handbook to Public Libraries of Manchester and Salford. March, 1877, p. 174.

+ There is an interesting notice of the Bamboo books by Mr. H. F. Holt, in the University College Professorial Dissertations for 1872-73.

The word peen meant formerly a slip of bamboo, whether it means one here or a bundle is doubtful, so that there is little to help us to an estimate of the real extent of this collection. At the close of the Han dynasty this library was almost entirely destroyed in the burning of the imperial edifice.

Succeeding dynasties imitated more or less this policy, and under the later Han dynasty great efforts were made to restore the library. It is said that two thousand vehicles entered the capital with the restorer of the dynasty. To this period belongs the invention of paper, which superseded alike the bamboo, wooden tablets, and textile fabrics previously employed. In the troubles at the close of the second century the palace at Lo-Yang was burned, and the greater part of the books destroyed. Seventy cart-loads are, however, said to have started for the western capital in Shen-se, but not more than half reached there, and those were dispersed in the troubles that ensued. Another imperial collection at Lo-Yang, amounting to 29,945 books, was destroyed A.D. 311.

In A.D. 431, Seäy Ling-Yuen, the keeper of the archives, made a catalogue of 4,582 books in his custody. Another catalogue was compiled in 473, and recorded 5,704 books. Buddhism and Taouism now began to contribute largely to the national literature. Amongst the other conse

quences of the overthrow of the Tse dynasty at the end of the fifth century was the destruction of the royal library of 18,010 books. Early in the next century a collection of 33,106 books, not including the Buddhist literature, was made chiefly, it is said, by the exertions of Jin Fang, the official curator. The Emperor Yuen-te removed his library, then amounting to 70,000 books, to King Chow, and the building was burnt down when he was threatened by the troops of Chow.

The library of the later Wei dynasty was dispersed in the insurrection of 531, and the efforts made to restore it were not altogether successful. The later Chow collected a library of 10,000 books, and, on the overthrow of Tse dynasty, this was increased by a mass of 5,000 mss. obtained from the fallen dynasty. When towards the close of the sixth century the Suy became masters of the empire they began to accumulate books. Mss. were copied by expert caligraphers. The library at the eastern capital amounted to 17,000 books, whilst that at Chang-gan extended to 37,000 books. The Tang dynasty are specially remarkable for their patronage of literature. Early in the eighth century the catalogue extended to 53,915 books, and a collection of recent authors included 28,469 books. Printing began to supersede manuscript in the tenth century, plentiful editions of the classics appeared and voluminous compilations. Whilst the Sung were great patrons of literature, the Leaou were at least lukewarm, and issued an edict prohibiting the printing of books by private persons. The Kin had books translated into their own tongue, for the benefit of the then Mongolian subjects. A similar policy was pursued by the Yuen dynasty, under whom dramatic literature and fiction began to flourish.

In the year 1406, the printed books in the Imperial Library are said to have amounted to 300,000 printed books and

twice the number of mss.* The extent of this literature is said to have suggested the desirability of a compilation of a nature almost peculiar to the literature of China, and uniting the character of gazetteer, history and anthology.

There are some interesting statements as to the invention of movable type for the Chinese language in an imperial ode by the Emperor K'in Lung prefixed to the Tai Ts'ing Ui Tin or collected statutes of the Mauchu dynasty. The imperial ode is in praise of the "collected gems (printing types), and sets forth that a careful search brought to light ten thousand varieties of the great statutes of Wing Loh (1403), and that as the cutting of blocks was no easy matter, Kam Kán, the keeper of the Military Heroes Hall, recommended the use of "living characters (types). In the reign of Hing Lik of the Sung dynasty, about 1141, there was a man named Pat Shing, who made "living blocks" out of adhesive clay burnt. Another Chinese inventor, a man of Pi Luk, in the province of Kiang-su, made use of lead characters. This was the beginning of type printing. The ode itself contains an allusion to the libraries of the Han dynasty, which filled five carriages when they were removed to a large library at Ip, to the "collection of the Tong College Chung Tip," to the "Remains of the age of Leung by Chau-Man," and to the great Chinese Encyclopædia. † On this cognate subject a digression may be allowed.

Mr. W. F. Mayers, whose early death is a great loss to Chinese studies, contributed to the China Review‡ an article on the bibliography of the Chinese imperial collections, a subject to which attention has been called by the purchase for the British

*The authority for these historical particulars is Mr. Wylie's Notes on Chinese Literature.

+ China Review, July, 1877, vol. vi., p. 16.
+ March, 1877.

Museum of the great encyclopædia of Kanghe. The spirit of classification can be traced in Chinese literature even before its attempted destruction in the celebrated Burning of the Books. Under the house of Han the remnants of ancient literature were collected and methodized by several great scholars. From the records preserved in the great imperial library Tu Yeo compiled in the ninth century the first important encyclopædic work of reference, which extended to two hundred volumes. This was eclipsed by the Emperor Yung Loh, who formed the idea of assembling in one immense literary encyclopædia the entire text of every work forthcoming at the period. 2,169 persons were employed in the compilation of this grand compendium, which extends to 22,877 books, with sixty books of indexes. The original intention of printing was abandoned, but two ms. transcripts were executed. Of the three copies originally made, one is still in existence in the library of the Han-lin College in a separate building, in which this and other imperial collections are given over to dust and decay. The orders of the Emperor K'ien Lung that it should be accessible to scholars are quite disregarded. The most extensive of all these encyclopædic enterprises, however, is that undertaken by the great patron of literature Kanghe, towards the close of his long and splendid reign. It is known as the T'u Shuh Tsih Ch'eng, and in its earlier stages the management appears to have been in the hand of Ch'en Mêng-lui, who had incurred the enmity of Kanghe's successor, and was banished in January, 1723, a month after the death of the great emperor. The responsible editor was Tsiang T'ing-sih, who was born in 1680 and died in 1745. The compilation was executed upon a plan devised by the Emperor Kanghe himself. As this classification shows the Chinese ideas concerning the order and importance of various sci

ences, it may be well to give an outline of it, and to state the number of kuan or books assigned to each section. In the first category are astronomy and mathematics. These contain the heavenly bodies (100 books); the seasons (116); astronomy and mathematical sciences (140); natural phenomena (188). The second category, physical and political geography, contains the earth (140); the dominions of China (1,544); topography of the empire (320); the frontier nations and foreign countries (140). The third category, the relations of humankind, contains the imperial court (300); the imperial buildings (140); official institutes and biographies (800); domestic laws (116); private relationships (120); genealogy and biography (640); mankind (112); womankind. (376). Under the fourth category, science and inanimate nature, we have arts and divination (824); religion and phenomena (320); the animal kingdom (192); the vegetable kingdom (320). The fifth category, metaphysics and doctrinal philosophy, contains canonical and general literature (500); education and conduct (300); the cultivation of learning (260); language and writing (160). The last category is that of political economy. Under this head are ranged the official examination system (136); the system of official appointments (120); articles of food and commerce (360); ceremonies (348); music (136); military organization (300); administration of justice (180); and handicraft (252). The kuan reach the enormous figure of 10,000. The compilers were not left without rule, but were instructed to commence each subject by an historical survey, and to follow with the principal series of extracts, maps and illustrations, tables, biographies, literary compositions, elegant extracts, minor historical notices, miscellaneous notes and appendices. A fount of movable type was cast, and contained 250,000 pieces in copper. This is said to have been done at

the suggestion of the Jesuits; but so little is known respecting this part of the history of the great encyclopædia that it is impossible to speak with certainty of the details. In the copy just acquired at the Museum the typographical errors have been corrected by cutting out the erroneous characters and pasting a slip of paper with the correct word on the back of the page. Chinese printing, it will be recollected, is on one side only of the leaf, which is very thin. The general table of contents occupies twenty volumes, and is introduced by a preface from the hand of the Emperor Young Chêng, which is followed by an introduction by Tsiang Ting-sih, already named. It is said by some that one hundred sets were printed, whilst other authorities aver that not more than thirty-eight were struck off. The fount of type having been melted after a small edition had been printed, the work must necessarily ever remain one of the rarest of books, and, in point of fact, the copy now at the British Museum is the only one in Europe, although the Bibliothèque Nationale of Paris possesses some few fragmentary portions of the work. Its real extent is very difficult to estimate. There are two kuan in each volume, and these are arranged in 520 han, wrappers or cases. description of the classification of this copy is slightly different from that already given, and is as follows: 1. Astronomy. 2. Calendar. 3. Chronology. 4. Divination. 5. The Earth. 6. Military divisions and al

Klaproth's

lotment of garrisons. 7. Mountains and Rivers. 8. Frontiers and foreign geography. 9. The Emperor. 10. The Palace. II. Officers of Government. 12. Domestic institutions. 13. Laws of Social Law. 14. Family history and genealogy. 15. Human occupations. 16. Women. 17. Magic. 18. Spirits and Miracles. 19. Living beings. 20. Plants and Trees. 21. Books and Literature. 22. Commentators. 23. Eloquence. 24. Doctrine of characters. 25. Promotions. 26. Weights and Measures. 27. Foods and Merchandise. 28. Ceremonies and usages. 29. Music. 30. Military art. 31. Penal laws. 32. Public works."

A note to the Imperial Ode of K'in Lung states that the copper types used in printing this gigantic work were preserved in the Military Heroes Hall for a long number of years. Probably some of them were stolen, and the officer in charge feared that he would incur blame. At the beginning of K'in Lung's reign a suggestion was made that they should be melted down for coinage. This was done. "The gain was but little and the loss was very great. It was a miserable calculation. Had the copper type still remained, would not the printing of books at the present time have been performed with half the amount of labor? It is very much to be regretted." t

*Klaproth in Journal Asiatique, vol. ix. Paris, 1826, p. 56.

+ China Review, July, 1877, vol. vi., p. 17.

JANUARY, 1880.

Communications for the JOURNAL, exchanges, and editors' copies, should be addressed EDITORS LIBRARY JOURNAL, 13 & 15 Park Row (P. O. Box 4295), New York, except material for special departments, which should be forwarded direct to departmental edilors.

Library catalogues, reports, regulations, sample blanks, and other library appliances, should be sent to MELVIL DUI, Sec. A. L. A., General Offices American Library Association, 32 Hawley Street (P. O. Box 260), Boston. European matter may be sent to the care of H: R. TEDDER, Sec. L. A. U. K., Athenæum Club, Pall Mall, S. W., London.

Remittances and orders for subscriptions and advertisements should be addressed to THE LIBRARY JOURNAL, 13 & 15 Park Row (P. O. Box 4295), New York. Remittances should be made by draft on New York, P. O. order, or registered letter.

The Editors are not responsible for the views expressed in contributed articles or communications, nor for the style of spelling, capitalization, etc., in articles whose authors request adherence to their own styles.

Subscribers are entitled to advertise books wanted, or duplicates for sale and exchange, at the nominal rate of 10 cents per line (regular rate, 25 cents); also to adver tise for situations or assistance to the extent of five lines free of charge.

NEW YORK promises to be for some time a center of library interest. The report of the Astor announces authoritatively Mr. J. J. Astor's intention of building upon the ground recently given by him an extension of the library, which will complete its facade and plan, and afford shelf-room for 120,000 v. The New-York papers have given some attention to the chronic complaints against this and the Lenox Library, pointing out that neither is intended as a public library in the wide sense, but as a free reference library for scholars and workers. This should be definitely kept in mind, and a generous giver ought not to be taken to task because he has done some other thing than his critics think he ought to do. The criticism on the Astor, however, has not been altogether from this mistaken point of view; the point made has been that the short hours rendered it impossible for most literary workers, who are not masters of their own hours, to make the use of it designed by Mr. Astor. The present administration seems disposed to correct this as rapidly as possible. A half-reading of our article on "Library Hours" has induced one of the New York evening papers, in this connection, to scold the JOURNAL roundly

VOL. V., No. 1.

ness is to keep books away from the public,-a scolding atrociously absurd, in view of the position actually taken by the JOURNAL, its editors and its individual writers.

MR. PERKINS' new departure, an important step in library progress which is fully explained elsewhere, will be of additional benefit to the library system, because it enables him to hasten very much the publication of the A. L. A. Catalog. What is particularly needed now is the co-operation of specialists who may be willing to prepare lists of the best books for reading up or studying any given subject, with explanations of the relation of each book to the subject and to the other books about it. The series of special lists planned for the LIBRARY JOURNAL, of which Prof. Sumner's, on economics and political science, in this number, is the first, has this partly in view, and expert volunteers in this work are very much desired. For instance, such lists as Prof. March or Prof. Haldeman could supply for the study of Anglo-Saxon, English, or general philology. Lucy Stone, for the woman suffrage question, etc., etc., would be of very great value. Prof. Sumner's list affords a good model. It is of the first importance that any aid of this kind should be prompt, for there is no time to lose. Such special lists as the JOURNAL will publish will be found valuable, we may add, not only as a means for informing readers, but as guides in purchasing so as to keep a library well up on topics of the time.

Mr. Pendleton presents elsewhere some useful truisms, and truisms need sometimes to be pushed home. A Congressional wit the other day assured his fat opponent that "Blubber is n't brains," and in libraries bigness is by no means the test of usefulness. A further addition to Mr. Pendleton's new items for report might indeed be suggested, of books never taken from the shelves. It would be a practical consolation to many small libraries to know to how small a proportion of the books in large libraries the turn-over is confined. We would note one exception to Mr. Pendleton's paper: he sets up from Prof. Winsor's and the other JOURNAL discussions a man of straw for the purpose of knocking him down again. When it is said that an "inferior" book read is better than a superior book not read, nobody means books absolutely bad and injurious. In a word, books of less merit, not of demerit, are alone in question, and Mr. Pendleton himself will scarcely question that a library is useful or not according as its books are or are not used.

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