The National Library of China announced on the 7th that the restoration project of the "Tianlu Linlang" of the Qing Palace of the National Library, which lasted for 8 years, was a complete success and officially concluded. This is the largest special restoration action for precious ancient books of the national map since the implementation of the "Chinese Ancient Books Protection Plan" in 2007.
According to reports, "Tianlu Linlang" is an important collection of books placed in the Zhaoren Hall by the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty after selecting the old books of the Song, Jin, Yuan, and Ming editions in the collections of the imperial palace. From its establishment until the 1950s, it has experienced disasters such as fire, theft, soldiers, and beetles, resulting in a large number of losses in the collection, nearly 60 of the 664 books have disappeared, and more than 600 surviving parts are mainly stored in mainland China and Taiwan. At present, the National Library of China has 279 "Tianlu Linlang", of which the Song and Yuan engravings account for a relatively large proportion, and most of the most precious ancient books in the "Later Edition of the Tianlu Linlang Bibliography" are preserved.
In June 2013, the National Library of Ancient Books completed the cataloguing of the uneducated books of "Tianlu Linlang" and conducted a damage investigation. The survey results show that 10% of the books in this batch are first-degree damage and are in urgent need of rescue repair. With the support of the "Chinese Ancient Books Protection Program", the Restoration Project of the National Library of China was launched, with Zhu Zhenbin, senior restorer of the National Library of Ancient Books, as the chief expert, leading Cui Zhibin, the backbone of the restoration of ancient books of the National Library, to undertake the restoration work.
After more than 8 years of efforts, all the damaged ancient books involved in the project have been repaired, and fruitful results have been achieved in project management, restoration steps, restoration techniques, restoration materials, scientific research results, skill inheritance, technological innovation and other aspects. Experts believe that the "Tianlu Linlang" restoration project exceeded the expected goal and is another important and precious ancient book restoration project of the National Library of China after the restoration projects such as "Dunhuang Testament" and "Zhao Cheng Jinzang".
It is understood that the National Library (National Center for the Protection of Ancient Books) will hold a "Tianlu Linlang" restoration exhibition, publish relevant restoration results, and promote restoration experience and scientific research results.
Reporter: Zhou Wei