Riding the wind of rebirth

"Our collection of ancient books includes handwritten scriptures from the Sui and Tang dynasties, important collections of poems by famous literati from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, precious local gazetteers of Sichuan throughout history, and ancient Chinese medical classics. Among them, those selected for the National List of Precious Ancient Books include the Hongwu Southern Canon, the Book of Chen printed in Sichuan during the Shaoxing period of the Song dynasty, the History of the Southern Dynasties printed in the Yuan dynasty, the late Ming dynasty edition of Chen Laolian's Water Margin Paintings, and the Chronicles of Huayang."

At this point, Liu Yijie asked Zhou Zhi, "I heard that you retrieved the Weng family's old collection from the United States. The Weng family's descendants only kept Chen Hongshou's 'Water Margin Antique Leaf Cards' for research? What a pity..."

“There’s nothing we can do about it,” Zhou Zhi said. “Weng Yijun’s expertise is in Chen Hongshou’s prints, and it’s too difficult for him to give up on the ‘Water Margin Antique Leaflets’ project. I’ve done my best, and even so, they’re only doing it because I sent them the photocopies of the Water Margin leaflets from Sichuan University’s collection…”

"Oh right, your Sichuan University Museum also has a set of 'Water Margin Playing Cards' donated by General Li Yimang..."

“Our school’s set is missing the word ‘Bo Gu’ compared to the provincial museum’s set, so it’s not as exquisite as yours and is also less valuable.” Zhou Zhi was very defensive, implying that since your set was better than theirs, they should give up on it.

An elderly woman accompanying them couldn't help but smile as she listened to Zhou Zhi and Liu Yijie exchanging cryptic messages.

"Zhenwei, you've made a fool of yourself. My unworthy disciple is easygoing in other matters, but when it comes to these things, he's as stubborn as a mythical beast," Old Master Gu laughed.

This wasn't an accusation; it was clearly taking sides and supporting someone. The old woman laughed even harder: "Quanyou already told me what kind of temperament my senior brother's last disciple had. If it weren't for that, so many good things wouldn't have been accumulated."

The old woman was Yan Zhenwei, a descendant of the Yan family. She was about the same age as Zhou Zhi's maternal grandmother, also over eighty years old. Because she had been engaged in painting for a long time, she had a quiet temperament. Due to her family's academic background, she and Gu Lao addressed each other as fellow students.

This last sentence was also a heartfelt remark, because Yan Zhenwei paid close attention to the paintings of his teacher's school, so he knew that Zhang Daqian's large splashed-ink masterpiece "Wuxia Clouds and Mountains" was ultimately bought by Zhou Zhi at Christie's Hong Kong Island auction.

It wasn't until the two met that Zhou Zhi revealed everything to Yan Zhenwei, who then learned that in addition to Zhang Daqian's "Clouds and Mountains over Wuxia Gorge," Zhou Zhi also possessed his central couplets, a Dunhuang copy of a Bodhisattva image, the "Seeking Verses in Bamboo Creek" scroll combining meticulous brushwork and freehand style, and the "Spring Clouds and Dawn Mist" in small splashed ink paintings, among others.

"Clouds and Mountains over Wuxia Gorge" is just the last and most difficult piece in this child's collection of Zhang Daqian's works. Apart from this piece, the rest of the collection can also be regarded as the best of Zhang Daqian's paintings!

Originally, Yan Zhenwei only wanted to observe "Clouds and Mountains over Wuxia Gorge". Now he has gained so much more, including several paintings that have long existed only in the collections of Zhang Daqian's paintings and calligraphy, with the originals nowhere to be found. It is truly an unexpected surprise.

"From what they've been saying, it seems there's quite a connection between pork knuckle and the provincial library." Without realizing it, Old Gu found himself following behind Liu Yijie and Zhou Zhi, whispering to Yan Zhenwei.

"It's fate, but it seems to be a karmic entanglement..." Yan Zhenwei continued to smile, pursing his lips.

The two people in front have already started discussing the Qianlong Emperor's Dragon Canon.

The Qianlong Dragon Canon was discovered and restored by Zhou Zhi in Jiachuan. Although it was reprinted during the Guangxu period, it was printed using woodblocks that were missing from the Qianlong period, making it different from the Guangxu editions. Therefore, it has considerable documentary and cultural value. Zhou Zhi even wrote a paper on this topic, "A Comprehensive Study of Various Editions of the Dragon Canon".

"This is really not my fault. The restoration of the Dragon Canon required the printing paper from the Wuying Hall. At that time, our technology for replicating antique paper was not yet in place. So when the National Museum offered to help us, we were so happy that we didn't expect it to be loaned out after the restoration."

The Dragon Canon was discovered in a mountain cave. To protect the scroll, the monk Yuanxiu took it out of the cabinet and sent it to the Bodhisattva Cave on Lotus Peak for safekeeping. Over time, the scroll inevitably suffered some damage.

Damage requires repair, and repair requires materials. After the scrolls were repaired and the case was combined, the National Museum of China requested a loan for exhibition. This loan lasted for three years and the scrolls never returned.

“I feel that it would be difficult for the Sichuan Museum, as the managed unit, to ask the National Museum for its collection back,” Liu Yijie said. “If the Dragon Canon were transferred to our collection, and we were to ask for it back, wouldn’t we be much more justified?” Although he said this, Liu Yijie’s true intentions were as clear as day.

Zhou Zhi laughed and said, "I have no say in these important matters. I am already extremely lucky to have been able to participate in the repair process once. I really dare not say anything else."

“At least we should learn from this experience.” Liu Yijie probably knew that the matter was not very promising, but he just brought it up to introduce the key topic: “We need to be more careful this time when we are doing the photocopying of the ‘Phonology Series’.”

“I agree with that,” Zhou Zhi said. “This book scanning work is essentially a process of review and restoration. I think the entire process can be completed by Sichuan Province itself, with the ‘Phonology Series’ scanning and restoration team in charge. The main work location will be the Ancient Books Restoration Institute of Sichuan University, with personnel dispatched by the institute and the provincial library. The security and transportation of the books will be handled by Jinli Group Security Company. If there are insufficient funds and equipment, the Yu Tang Cultural Relics Protection Foundation can cover the shortfall. What do you think, Director Liu?”

“I tend to agree, Mr. Yan, what do you think?” Liu Yijie looked at Yan Zhenwei.

"I don't think there's a problem."

“Alright, then we’ll submit this proposal to the National Library Press,” Liu Yijie said.

“We can add one more point to the report.” Zhou Zhi pondered for a moment: “We will provide the National Library Press with two versions of the ‘Phonology Series’: one version is an image file for original archiving; the other is a digital library version for efficient retrieval, querying, browsing, and transmission in the library.”

"The key is that we can use Hanwen's professional font library and estimated typesetting system to achieve efficient digital printing. The printed result should be almost identical to the photocopy."

"As for the text-based digital version, it will also be included with the digital library version."

"Printing ancient books in photocopy format using digital methods?" Liu Yijie immediately grasped the key point in Zhou Zhi's statement.

“Specialized expansion of UTF-8,” Zhou Zhi said with a smile. “This is an application scenario with immediate results, and I think it’s worth pursuing. It should satisfy all parties.”

"As the National Library of China with the largest collection of ancient books, they must be especially satisfied," Liu Yijie chuckled mischievously. "With this as a mouthpiece, no one will dare to ask us for money again, right?"

“That’s for sure, since no one can produce anything better.” Zhou Zhi and Liu Yijie chuckled together.

“Elbow, our provincial library also has its own publishing house…” Liu Yijie took Zhou Zhi’s arm, just like Mai Xiaomiao behind him took Yan Zhenwei’s arm.

Zhou Zhi: "..."

"You can read 'Hongwu Southern Canon,' 'Book of Chen,' 'History of the Southern Dynasties,' and 'Chronicles of Huayang,' as you like. I'll also get you a researcher-level library card, which will make it much easier to find ancient books at the provincial library!"

"I can't refuse these conditions..." Zhou Zhi had no choice but to surrender. (End of Chapter)