IT and Libraries: The Library of Congress digitized 1,000 rare Chinese books produced before 1796

The Library of Congress has digitized and made available online 1,000 rare Chinese books produced before 1796. 

The Chinese Rare Book Digital Collection includes the most valuable titles and editions housed in the Library’s Asian Division, some of which date as far back as the 10th century and are the only extant copies in the world.

This new digital collection brings together printed books, manuscripts, Buddhist sutras, works with hand-painted pictures, local gazetteers and ancient maps, encompassing a wide array of disciplines and subjects in classics, history, geography, philosophy and literature.