中研院歷史語言研究所歷史文物陳列館

Rare Texts

This area demonstrates rare books and periodicals collected by the Institute of History and Philology. Many of them are extremely rare ones, such as exemplary copies printed in the Sung dynasty. Besides, there is a great amount of folk literature in the form of “song compendiums,” as well as manuscripts and copies with handwritten commentaries by famous scholars. One of the most significant archival materials is Veritable Records of the Ming Dynasty.

Hsiao-hsüeh chü-tou with Handwritten Preface by Têng Pang-shu

Item No. : 185016

MaterialsEdition: T’ai-chou Blue Ink Edition, 1535

An indigo ink edition is also better known as a blue ink edition. After a block print book was completed in the Ming Dynasty, printing would be tried several times using blue ink, and after corrections had been made, only then would black ink be used. Therefore, Têng Pang-shu’s preface states that this is an: “indigo ink edition of proofs created from the initial block print.” Têng Pang-shu had a particularly special interest in block print books from the Ming Dynasty Chia-ching Imperial period, and even used the title “the home of a hundred Ching books” to refer to himself and the building in which he kept his many books. This work is a Ming Dynasty Chia-ching edition.