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Shanghai Buys Rare Books
from Chinese American

The Shanghai Library has acquired a collection of 542 rare books owned by Weng Wange, a Chinese American who emigrated to the United States in the 1940s. Most of the books were accumulated by Weng’s ancestor, who was a tutor to Emperor Guangxu in the 19th century.

The collection, for which the Shanghai city government paid several million U.S. dollars, arrived at the library April 28, the official Xinhua news agency reported. It contains all eight volumes of an original, block-print edition of a literary piece by Ji Yun (Song Dynasty, 420–479); works of the poet Han Yu, who lived during the Tang Dynasty (618–907); historical accounts of the Sui Dynasty (589–618); court officials’ suggestions to emperors; and ancient maps.

Chinese rare book expert Ji Shuying said the collection consists of “state treasures that have never been seen in the world’s libraries.”

Posted May 8, 2000.

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