The IAK Association's Four Categories Collection – Article 2: the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries – Origins and Development of the Siku Quanshu

IAK协会的《四库全书》馆藏系列文章 – 第二篇: 四部大典 – 《四库全书》的起源与发展

A Legacy Through Time: The History of the Siku Quanshu

穿越时空的遗产：《四库全书》的历史

The Siku Quanshu stands as one of the most monumental and representative cultural achievements in Chinese history. It encapsulates the essence of ancient Chinese scholarship, reflecting the wisdom of past scholars and literati. To appreciate the significance and far-reaching influence of this remarkable work, we explore the origins, development, and historical journey of the Siku Quanshu.

《四库全书》是中国历史上最具代表性和规模宏大的文化项目之一。它汇集了中国古代学术的精华，反映了历代学者的智慧。为了理解这部巨著的重大意义和深远影响，我们将探讨《四库全书》的起源、发展及其历史旅程。

The Origins of the Siku Quanshu

四库全书的起源

The compilation of the Siku Quanshu began during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty. In 1773, Emperor Qianlong initiated this grand project to compile and preserve Chinese traditional knowledge, thereby strengthening the cultural unity of the Qing Empire. He ordered the collection of books from across China, launching a massive endeavor that involved thousands of scholars and lasted over a decade.

《四库全书》的编纂始于清朝乾隆时期。1773年，乾隆皇帝启动了这一宏大的文化项目，旨在汇集并保存中国传统知识，增强清朝的文化统一。他下令从全国范围内搜集书籍，开展这一庞大的编纂工作，数千名学者参与其中，历时十多年才得以完成。

The Emperor classified ancient Chinese texts into four major categories: Classics (Jing), History (Shi), Philosophy (Zi), and Literature (Ji), giving the collection its name, "Siku" (Four Categories). The Classics section includes Confucian texts, History covers historical works, Philosophy represents various schools of thought, and Literature features the works of poets and writers throughout history. This classification not only highlights the rigor of traditional Chinese scholarship but also made it easier for future generations to access and study these texts.

皇帝将古代中国的典籍分为四大类：经、史、子、集，因此得名“四库”。“经”部收录儒家经典，“史”部包括历史文献，“子”部涵盖各学派的哲学著作，“集”部则汇集了历代诗人和作家的作品。这种分类不仅体现了中国传统学术的严谨性，也使后人更容易查阅和研究这些文献。

Under Emperor Qianlong's supervision, over 360 high-ranking officials and scholars, including Ji Yun, contributed to the compilation of the Siku Quanshu. More than 3,800 individuals were involved in transcribing the text, and it took 13 years to complete. The collection contains over 3,500 works, 79,000 volumes, 36,000 books, and approximately 800 million characters, making it a comprehensive repository of ancient Chinese literature—hence its title, the Complete Library.

在乾隆皇帝的监督下，纪昀等360多位高官和学者参与了《四库全书》的编纂工作。3800多名抄写人员参与其中，历时13年方告完成。这部丛书收录了3500多种书籍，7.9万卷，3.6万册，约8亿字，几乎囊括了古代中国的所有典籍，因此被称为“全书”。

The Challenges and Achievements of Compilation

编纂的挑战与成就

The compilation of the Siku Quanshu was a monumental effort to preserve and organize the vast body of ancient Chinese literature. The scholars involved had to collect, compare, and edit an enormous number of texts, ensuring their accuracy and authenticity. This process not only preserved many rare and valuable works that might otherwise have been lost but also established a systematic foundation for future academic research.

编纂《四库全书》是一项浩大的工程，旨在保存和整理中国古代庞大的文献。参与者不仅要搜集、比对、编辑大量文本，还要确保其准确性和真实性。通过这一过程，许多珍稀的古籍得以保存，否则很可能早已散失。同时，这项编纂工作为后续的学术研究奠定了系统化的基础。

The Wenjin Pavilion edition of the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries, currently housed in the National Library of China, is the fourth of the seven editions, completed in 1784. Originally stored at the Chengde Mountain Resort, it was later incorporated into the National Library, where it joined the Dunhuang Manuscripts, the Zhaocheng Jin Tripitaka, and the Yongle Encyclopedia as one of the library's four great treasures.

如今藏于中国国家图书馆的文津阁《四库全书》，是七部《四库全书》中的第四部，成书于乾隆四十九年（1784年）。最初存放在承德避暑山庄，后来被纳入国家图书馆，与《敦煌遗书》、《赵城金藏》和《永乐大典》一起，成为国家图书馆的四大镇馆之宝。

Since the Wenjin Pavilion edition was officially received by the Capital Library in 1915, it has garnered special attention, with strict regulations governing its preservation and use. Consisting of 36,304 volumes, stored in 6,144 bookcases and displayed on 128 bookshelves, it is the most complete of the seven editions, and remains the only one where the original shelves, cases, and books have been preserved together.

自1915年文津阁《四库全书》正式移交京师图书馆以来，它受到了极大的关注，并有着严格的保存和使用规定。文津阁版共计36304册，分装6144个书函，陈列在128个书架上。它是七部《四库全书》中保存最完整的一部，并且至今仍保持着原架、原函、原书一体保存的独特地位。

The Transmission and Impact of the Siku Quanshu

四库全书的传承与影响

To ensure the preservation and accessibility of the Siku Quanshu, Emperor Qianlong established seven libraries across China to house copies of the collection. These included the WenYuan Pavilion in the Forbidden City Palace and the Wenyuan Pavilion in the Summer Palace of Beijing, Wensu Pavilion in Chengde, Wenlan Pavilion in Hangzhou, Wenhui Pavilion in Yangzhou, Wenzong Pavilion in Zhenjiang, and another Wenlan Pavilion in Taiwan. However, due to wars and natural disasters, only a few of these original copies remain intact.

为了确保《四库全书》的保存与传播，乾隆皇帝在全国设立了七座专门藏书的书阁，包括北京故宫的文渊阁和北京圆明园的文源阁，承德的文津阁，沈阳的文溯阁，扬州的文汇阁，镇江的文宗阁，以及杭州的文澜阁。然而，由于战争和自然灾害，原版中仅有少数几部得以完整保存。

Today, only three and a half sets of the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries survive. Among them, the Wen Yuan Pavilion edition was originally housed in the Beijing Palace Museum, later transported through Shanghai and Nanjing to Taiwan, where it is now kept at the National Palace Museum in Taipei (this is one of the best-preserved editions). The Wensu Pavilion edition narrowly escaped being sold to the Japanese in 1922 and is now housed in the Gansu Provincial Library. The Wenjin Pavilion edition was transferred to the National Library of China in 1950, and it is the only set where the original shelves, boxes, and books have all been preserved.

现今，全球仅存三套半《四库全书》。其中，文渊阁本原藏于北京故宫，后经上海、南京转运至台湾，现存于台北故宫博物院（该版本保存最为完好）。文溯阁本1922年差点被卖给日本，现藏于甘肃省图书馆。文津阁本于1950年由中国政府调拨至中国国家图书馆，是唯一一部原架、原函、原书完整保存的版本。

The Contemporary Value of the Siku Quanshu

四库全书的当代价值

In modern times, with the advent of digital technology, the Siku Quanshu has been reproduced and digitized, allowing people around the world to explore this cultural masterpiece. The Wenjin Pavilion Siku Quanshu (Collector’s Edition), housed by IAK in Switzerland, represents the continuation and promotion of this valuable cultural heritage, enabling today's generation to connect with the ancient wisdom of Chinese culture.

在现代，随着数字技术的发展，《四库全书》得以再版和数字化，使全球更多人能够探索这一文化瑰宝。IAK协会在瑞士收藏的文津阁《四库全书》（典藏版）代表了这一宝贵文化遗产的延续和推广，使今天的人们能够与古老的中国文化智慧相连接。

Conclusion: The Spirit of the Siku Quanshu

结语：四库全书的精神

The Siku Quanshu is more than a collection of books; it is a symbol of China's cultural heritage and intellectual spirit. It embodies cultural confidence, respect for knowledge, and a dedication to passing down wisdom through generations. This spirit has allowed the Siku Quanshu to transcend time and space, remaining a source of inspiration for us today.

《四库全书》不仅仅是一套书的合集，它象征着中国的文化遗产和知识精神。它体现了文化自信、对知识的尊重以及代代相传的智慧。正是这种精神，使《四库全书》跨越时空，至今仍是我们启迪与灵感的源泉。