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From “Engraving Books as an Act of Accumulating Virtue” to Digital Preservation: The Cultural Reproduction of Classical Books in Contemporary Suzhou

Author(s)

Xiyi Chen

Affiliation(s)

Hamilton College, Clinton, USA

Abstract

Suzhou, as an important birthplace of woodblock printing in China, has occupied a central position in the national book-production system since the Tang and Song dynasties. The notion of “engraving books as an act of accumulating virtue” not only shaped Wu's cultural lineage but also became an essential component of the city’s cultural memory. Entering the modern era, large-scale industrial publishing disrupted the traditional ecosystem of classical books, and Suzhou’s ancient-book activities experienced a temporary decline. Yet, against the backdrop of digitalization and cultural heritage protection as national priorities, classical books have regained social vitality in contemporary Suzhou. Based on literature review, questionnaire analysis, and case studies, this research examines the continuous trajectory of Suzhou’s classical books-from traditional engraving, to modern restoration, to digital dissemination. The article first reviews the historical development of Suzhou’s engraving culture, highlighting its deep connections to the local economy, literati communities, and the city’s cultural temperament. Second, the analysis of 153 questionnaires reveals structural disparities in the attitudes, knowledge, and participation of contemporary Suzhou residents. Third, taking Suzhou Library’s classical-book preservation practices as a case, it discusses the institutional construction of libraries in the digital era. This study argues that the significance of classical books in contemporary Suzhou lies not only in textual preservation but also in their ongoing role in public culture, urban identity, and cultural reproduction. Classical books have moved from the era of “engraving” and “collecting” into the era of “use” and “participation,” becoming an essential medium of cultural identity in contemporary Suzhou.

Keywords

History of Suzhou Engraving; Classical-Book Conservation; Suzhou Library; Digital Cultural Resources; Local Cultural Identity

References

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