Over 3,000 pieces of privately owned ancient Chinese documents added to the National Library’s collection

Translated version of the press release (Editor: Pei Gang)

On 4 August 2025, the National Library of China held a donation ceremony. Renowned collectors Liu Gang and Chen Yu, along with their spouse, donated 630 types of precious ancient books, maps, and related publications – totalling 3,026 volumes (or pieces) – that they had meticulously collected and preserved over
several decades, to the National Library of China without any form of compensation.

This collection of literary treasures spans a vast timeframe and encompasses a wide range of subjects, with its highlights concentrated in fields such as astronomy, geography, mathematics, philosophy, traditional Chinese medicine, health preservation, and metaphysics, making it of significant academic research value.

In China, there are already very few collectors who have established specialised collections of ancient texts, and collectors like Liu Gang and Chen Yu, who have built a collection system with intellectual depth, are even rarer.

Among the numerous donated items is a copy of an ancient map titled ‘Map of Tribute-Paying Nations from All Over the World.’ Since its existence and some details were first publicly disclosed by the internationally authoritative magazine The Economist in January 2006, this map has sparked sustained and intense debate within the global historical, cartographic, and Sinological communities, emerging as one of the most controversial and research-worthy ancient maps of global significance. The copy faithfully reflects the
information of the original ancient map. The world outline depicted in the map, the foreign place names and customs marked, and especially the geographical information contained therein that transcends the mainstream understanding of the time, have been interpreted by some scholars as potentially challenging or supplementing existing narratives regarding the Age of Discovery, ancient Chinese worldviews, and the history of Sino-foreign exchanges.

Research into its authenticity, date of creation, information sources, and historical context has formed an important research topic in the international field of cartographic history over the past two decades. The inclusion of this copy of the ‘Map of Tribute-Paying Nations’ in the National Library of China, a national-level research institution, undoubtedly opens up new and more convenient academic  channels for domestic and international scholars to conduct close-up and in-depth research into the rich historical codes and diverse cultural values it contains, and is expected to drive related research to a deeper level.

Donation ceremony 
The donation by Liu Gang and Chen Yu was one of the most significant and valuable private donations received by the National Library of China since 1949, particularly in the fields of ancient maps and specialised literature. This collection of precious documents has not only greatly enriched the National
Library’s collection system but has also significantly expanded its holdings in areas such as the history of science and technology, the history of ideas, and the history of Sino-foreign exchanges. The National Library has included this collection in its ‘Ancient Books Special Collection’ for permanent preservation, further highlighting the unique value and profound significance of these documents. The significance of Liu Gang and Chen Yu’s donation to the National Library lies in the transformation of ‘private collections’ into
‘public assets,’ ensuring that the achievements of millennia of civilisation are preserved for future generations and benefit the public.

Read more online here.