New fund backs Qing royal archives

A special fund was launched in the National Library of China Foundation on Tuesday to support the preservation and study of the Yangshi Lei architectural archive, created by a family that oversaw royal construction during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) for eight generations.

The Lei family designed or participated in the construction of many major landmarks including the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Old Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Chengde Mountain Resort, and Qing royal mausoleums. Many of these sites are now on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Yangshi Lei archive contains handmade architectural models, construction blueprints, designers' diaries, notes and other materials. It is the only ancient Chinese architectural archive that was systematically preserved. More than 20,000 items related to Yangshi Lei are known to have survived, with nearly 15,000 now housed at the National Library of China. In 2007, UNESCO added the Qing Dynasty Yangshi Lei Archives held by the library to the Memory of the World Register.

The new fund will support conservation, research, and professional training related to the archive, while encouraging public participation in its preservation. A series of related cultural souvenirs will also be on sale, with all proceeds going to the fund.