Clear carving Guanyin Transformation Picture

Author: Lai Xinxia
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: China is a country with a profound cultural heritage, and there are numerous ancient books. However, with the passage of time, some of these books have gradually become lost and are difficult to find. Others have become increasingly rare and are not accessible to the general public, leading to a situation where valuable treasures are hidden away and fail to circulate. This contradiction has long been a concern for the knowledgeable individuals who care about the preservation of ancient books and the transmission of traditional culture. Not long ago, recognizing this issue, relevant national authorities invested heavily to establish the "National Reconstruction of Fine Books Project," entrusting the National Library to recreate rare books that people long to see but cannot access. The results have been excellent. This approach not only reduces the usage of rare books, preserving and protecting them from damage but also allows readers across the country to appreciate their appearance and content, achieving a win-win situation. It is indeed a meritorious act for culture. This has prompted me to think more deeply: if more collectors and publishers could organize the republication of some ancient books that appeal to a broader audience, wouldn’t that be even better? I have considered this issue and planned to implement a small-scale "reconstruction project," selecting some ancient books that are close to daily life and the people, publishing them in sets, retaining their original charm while adding new dimensions, and bringing more highlights to Chinese culture.
At the right time, the deputy editor-in-chief of Tianjin People's Fine Arts Publishing visited and discussed their plan to publish a new series of "Old Materials Books" based on their previously published "Old Materials Series," inviting me to serve as the series editor. Given my agreement with this idea and the fact that the deputy editor-in-chief is a graduate of Nankai University, both emotionally and logically, I accepted the invitation and discussed the progress of the work together.
Although this series, due to the difficulties in collection, cannot form a thematic series, it still holds significance for republication. First, from the perspective of art appreciation, the selected original texts are mostly valuable works of art, such as the portraits by Qiu Ying and Gao Qi, who were renowned for their figure paintings during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Both painting technique books are worth reading for those aspiring to pursue a career in art. Second, the selected books are works that the public enjoys, but since they are relatively rare and the original copies are expensive, obtaining and borrowing them is not easy. This makes the project more accessible to the public compared to the national reconstruction of fine books, with lower prices and a role in popularizing traditional culture. Third, some of the collected books are beneficial for academic research. For example, "Portraits of Qing Scholars" provides visual materials for the study of Qing history, while "Illustrated Compendium of the Dream of the Red Chamber" serves not only as a reference for "Red Studies" but also as a guide for reading "Dream of the Red Chamber," helping readers better remember the complex cast of characters. As for the two books on painting techniques, they are suitable for beginners and those practicing, and they can also enhance the appreciation of traditional Chinese painting techniques for general readers.
—Editor (Preface)