Chronicle of Chinese Publishing (Volume 1 & 2)

Author: Li Ruiliang
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-05-01
Features: A Chronological History of Chinese Publishing is the first and only specialized monograph on the history of Chinese publishing in a chronological format in China. The book is divided into eight parts: Pre-Qin, Qin and Han, Three Kingdoms, Western and Eastern Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties, Song, Liao, Western Xia, Jin, Yuan, Ming to Early Qing, Late Qing, and the Republic of China, spanning two volumes. It reflects the origins and explores the development of the publishing industry. Before its publication, research in this field was not comprehensive. To fully and authentically reflect the of China's publishing industry from the Pre-Qin period to 1949, Li Ruiliang dedicated himself tirelessly since the mid-1990s, combining practical editing experience with extensive research on the history of books and publishing. He collected and verified a vast amount of publishing materials, completing this groundbreaking work that fills a gap in academic research. Upon its release, the book garnered significant attention from the publishing industry and received widespread praise. Dai Wenbao, Advisor to the Chinese Editorial Society, wrote in the preface: "To savor the essence and extract the marrow. This is not only the result of decades of academic material accumulation by the author but also the long-term insights gained from practical research in editing and publishing, filling the gaps left by predecessors and encouraging future scholars." In addition to its extensive references and rich historical materials, the innovative structure and format of A Chronological History of Chinese Publishing are another key feature. This is particularly remarkable for a man in his late nineties. Traditional chronological histories are organized by year and month, with facts as the threads, but this approach often fragments and disperses complete historical events. Since historical events often span multiple years and related matters need to be connected to their causes and effects, tracing their origins and developments is essential. This book adopts the traditional chronological format while breaking free from conventional constraints, boldly innovating to combine a comprehensive historical perspective with a chronicle of major events and a collection of historical materials. It takes the chronological format and integrates both the whole and the parts, standing out uniquely in academia with profound significance.