International scholars gather in Guilin to advance ancient book studies

Keynote speeches at the conference delved into a wide array of topics such as ancient book collation, bibliographic studies, resource organization and publication experiences from both domestic and international collections, as well as the historical context and dissemination of ancient texts. These discussions not only underscored the depth and diversity of ancient book research but also provided a road map for future scholarly pursuits.

Zhang Zhiqing, the deputy director of the National Center for Preservation and Conservation of Ancient Books, outlined recent strides in China's ancient book preservation initiatives, including nationwide surveys, enhanced storage facilities, and extensive restoration projects. He emphasized the importance of establishing a national smart library system to rejuvenate ancient texts and safeguard cultural heritage.

Furthermore, scholars like Cheng Huanwen from Sun Yat-sen University's School of Information Management advocated for the intelligent advancement of ancient book preservation through modern technology, aiming to establish a unified national management system. Huang Shizhong, a professor of Chinese language and literature at Sun Yat-sen University, shared insights on cataloging and organizing folklore literature manuscripts, shedding light on their classification and historical significance.