'HE Emperor Kaotsungch'un Hwangti, whom we call Chien Lung, was extremely fond of literature and desired to spread the love of study among scholars, In the year 1790 he issued his last edict regarding the Imperial Library, The immense collection of books he had caused to be made was to be multiplied by placing a copy of each work in four libraries. One was in the Palace, a second was at Yangchow, a third on Golden Island and a fourth was to be deposited at at Hangchow in an appropriate building on the West Lake. 'I'his was a special honour assigned to the two provinces of Kiangsu and Chekiang for their attention to literature. Education has flourished in these provinces because trade ins prospered there. Wealth and industry increase the number of scholars and the production of books, and at the examinations the most successful students are usually from these two provinces. The names of the three libraries are Wentsung-ko, Wenhui-ko and Wenlan-ko, and they all existed in cities which were fora long period ocenpi ed by the Taipings, It would be interesting to know if any works still exist there which belonged to the Imperial libraries. The Emperor had made a rule that scholars might go to the libraries and copy rare books, but in fact visitors were scarcely seen there at all, very much through the excessive care exercised by Viceroys and Governors over Imperial property. \He made the order that as soon as the books were placed in piles on the shelves, the scholars of the province should be informed that on application they would be admitted to the library to read or copy scarce works, but they must not take books away for fear of loss. Into the Peking library in the Palace there was no admission, but the Emperor says that in the Hanlin-yuen which is outside the Palace, close to the British Legation of to-day, copies of many works are also placed to which access may be obtained by scholars desirous of taking copies for their own use. The keepers of the Hanlin-yuen are forbidden to place obstacles in the 5 way of such scholars. The Emperor 2 adds that he does this to encourage the study of old books, such as common readers never have the opportunity to consult. It was characteristic of this Emperor thatin the year 1781, heshould, when the Library Commission offered I for inspection some volumes of poetry, have required the omission of ce poems as having an immoral tendency.
The library was collected by ordering the Viceroys, Governors, and literary examiners to purchase every old book that could be found, or else borrow it with a promise to return it when done with. Three men in Chekiang are mentioned as having offered for inspection an unusual number of rare books. Among them is the Ningpo Fan family, to whom the ien yi ko liberary belongs; another contributor belonging to Hwaiaufu is mentioned as having offered a large number of works for inspection. Each of these four families was rewarded by the Emperor with a copy of the splendid book, the largest in the world, published by his grandfather, the emperor Jen Hwangti and known as the 7*w shu chi cheng containing about five thousand volumes, avd those who were thus rewarded contributed from 500 to 700 works. Others who had offered 100 volumes or more were honoured with a proof-copy of the Pei wen yun fir dictionary. 'I'he collection was made during eighteen years. When commencing the work the Emperor says his object was to advance the study of the classics as well as to help those who give special attention to some one branch of enquiry. Historical studies are mentioned as important to aid in political knowledge. Men may learn how to govern by gazing on the mirror of the past, But his aim went beyond this. He wished to collect the cream of all works that could be found, whether treatises or competitions by the thousands of authors, who in China have written or printed their lucubrations at different periods, Out of the books obtained more than ten thousand are described in the Imperial catalogue known as Sze chien shu tsung mu catalogue of the books in the Four Libraries. All these have attached to their titles a brief critical description and characterisation of the work. The school of authorship to which they belong is defined, and it is from the Confucian standpoint praised or condemned. During the last two centuries a spirit of critical inquiry has shown itself in Chinese authorship, and the authority of Chu-futsz, who was very powerful in his influence down to the end of the Ming dynasty, has been weakened,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.