A Study of Donation Catalogue of Bisonglou Collected by the Peking University Library—Also on the Opening of LU Xinyuan Shouxian Pavilion's Book Collection
As one of the"four major book collectors in the late Qing Dynasty",LU Xinyuan has attracted much attention from the academic community.A comprehensive study on LU's catalogue is pivotal to investigate his acquisition principle as well as to restore the historical context related to the collection,providing meaningful reference for the study of modern library development.However,there is few study on LU's catalogue,and disputes remain unresolved concerning the intention of LU's catalogue.This article intends to study the Catalogue of LU Xinyuan titled Donation Catalogue of Bisonglou collected by the Peking University Library,endeavors to resolve disputes concerned with the intention of LU's catalogue and propose discussions on the public access of LU's collection in the ancient private library named Shouxian Pavilion.With methods of documentation research,historical data investigation and text proofreading,this paper conducted detailed analysis of the text on the colophon inscriptions,cataloging rules of the Donation Catalogue,compared the features with LU's Catalogue of Donation to the Imperial College of China collected by Shanghai Library and LU's other catalogue collected by Nanking Library.The study found that Donation Catalogue of Bisonglou is not the catalogue of books donated by LU Xinyuan to the Imperial College of China,but the catalogue of the collection in Shouxian Pavilion compiled at the initial stage.The study of LU's Donation Catalogue of Bisonglou reflects his industrious and diligent maintenance of Shouxian Pavilion and reconsiders his collection acquisition principle.(1)To introduce a large number of Western books translated in Chinese with multiple disciplines on science and technology,reflecting LU's intention to open up to the developed minds from the West in order to rejuvenate the nation in the late Qing Dynasty.(2)To promote the preservation of traditional Chinese classics,especially the local chronicles in China and the books written in Qing Dynasty,represented by the largest collection in Shouxian Pavilion.(3)To consider people's livelihood and general needs of readers at that time by acquiring a large number of medical books,which promoted the spread of Western medical science in early China.The public access to the collection of Shouxian Pavilion and its consideration towards the needs of readers,showing a strong sense of social responsibility and demonstrating the archetype of the public library.In addition,LU's family continuously maintained the Shouxian Pavilion arduously in spite of the social instability,serving as a microcosm of the difficulty in maintaining libraries at that time.The study of LU's catalogue also brings up further discussions on the exact start point of the public service of ancient scholar's private libraries,which symbolizes the beginning of the modern public library in China.
Donation Catalogue of BisonglouLU XinyuanShouxian Pavilion
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