Libraries in China

Abstract

China, the inventor of paper and printing has been famous for Imperial Libraries. According to archival research, even before 1600 BC there existed at least on 'library' consisting of bone-and-shell inscriptions. However, according to the recorded history the first official library was set up during the sixth century BC and Lao Zi, the great philosopher was its custodian subsequently; each small royal state of China started its own library. Simultaneously, every school of scholars began to store their own private collections. Paper was not invented by then. Therefore, all these 'collections', royal or private, were mostly engravings on bamboo or wooden strips, or writings on expensive silk.