From the planning idea put forward in 2003, to the official launch in August 2006, and to the completion in July 2013, Huxiang Library is known as "a great event in the history of Hunan’s cultural development and a huge landmark project for the construction of a strong cultural province in Hunan". At the publication summary report meeting of Huxiang Library held in October, Huxiang Library, the largest publishing project and major public cultural project in Hunan’s history, was officially digitally republished. This is how difficult it is to persist and struggle, how brilliant it is to dream and glory!
Liu youping
Comprehensive, systematic and in-depth collection of Huxiang classics and Huxiang culture research achievements
For a long time, cultural scholars at home and abroad and local historical and cultural researchers in Hunan have been faced with the situation that the ancient books and documents are scattered and unsystematic in studying Hunan’s history, culture, people, allusions and customs. There has always been a rare collection of books and periodicals in Hunan. In 1946, the former Hunan National Government Literature Committee had an idea of compiling Hunan literature, but it failed because of the social unrest at that time. For thousands of years, the dream of compiling local classics in Hunan has always been a pity for people of insight.
In 2003, Wen Xuande, then deputy secretary of Hunan Provincial Party Committee, proposed for the first time to compile a set of comprehensive, systematic and in-depth large-scale cultural series "Huxiang Library" or "Huxiang Culture Encyclopedia" based on the great achievements made in the research and utilization of Huxiang culture, focusing on the historical origin and research results of Huxiang culture, and taking "official nature, government behavior and financial support" for 10 to 20 years. This proposal was quickly approved by the provincial party Committee and government, and the funds for compiling Huxiang Library were implemented, and a leading group for editing and publishing Huxiang Library was approved, and the compilation and publication of Huxiang Library was planned. For more than ten years, the main leaders of the provincial party committees have given high praise to Huxiang Library and given strong support from all aspects.
The publication of Huxiang Library is "of great practical and far-reaching historical significance for the world to understand Hunan, promote Hunan to the world, make the study of Huxiang culture arrangement a lasting driving force for Hunan’s economic and social development, and promote the construction of a harmonious society".
An unprecedented event in Hunan’s publishing history
The comprehensive compilation and collation of Hunan local classics and documents is an unprecedented event in Hunan publishing history, and it is also the first large-scale cultural project led by the provincial party committee and government in our province since the founding of New China.
The responsibility is great and far-reaching. After careful consideration, Wen Xuande was appointed as the director of the editing and publishing committee of Huxiang Library, with Liu Mingtai, Zhang Guanghua, Peng Guohua, Zhang Tianming, Xiong Zhiqi, Xia Jianqin, Ding Shuangping, Zhu Hanmin, Zeng Zhutao as the deputy directors and Guo Tianmin as the binding design director. Members of the editorial board are all senior experts and researchers in publishing and social science history, which laid a solid foundation for the compilation of Huxiang Library.
According to incomplete statistics, there are about 2 million copies of ancient books in Hunan Province, mainly in Hunan Library (800,000 copies), Hunan Normal University Library (200,000 copies) and Provincial Academy of Social Sciences Library (120,000 copies), and some of them are scattered in provincial museums, provincial archives, Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Library and folk places. Many ancient books can be called national treasures, but they should be hidden from the vast literature. To this end, the editorial board’s first move is to build a book framework and make a good topic selection plan. Yin Feizhou, then director of the Library Department of the Provincial Press and Publication Bureau, recalled that he drafted the discussion outline of the publication consultation meeting of Huxiang Library at that time on the advice of the leaders. After scientific and rigorous argumentation, the draft was changed, and finally it was determined that the first part of Huxiang literature and the second part of Huxiang research were the overall framework of the book. A series of predecessors’ works of Huxiang Literature Department; Part B is mainly the modern works on the characters, history and customs of Hunan, and also includes some reference books and data compilation.
It took more than six years to compile, print and publish Huxiang Library, with a total of 702 books, including 442 books of Huxiang Literature, 259 books of Huxiang Culture Studies and Literature and History Materials and 1 book of Bibliography, with about 400 million words in pictures and texts, more than 2,300 tons of special paper for book body, 90,000 meters of cover cloth, and the color difference of cloth should not exceed 2. The multimedia digital communication platform and dedicated terminal of Huxiang Library, as well as a service cloud data system centered on Huxiang culture and covering a variety of resources, have also been completed.
Strive to fully reflect the cultural outlook of Hunan before 1949.
After sorting out the bibliographies of ancient books and records, the editorial board reached a consensus to list the bibliographies. There were more than 800 kinds of books compiled in A, mainly written by Hunan people, including some unearthed documents in Hunan, representative works of people who lived in Hunan in the past dynasties and some old newspapers and periodicals in the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China, in order to fully reflect the cultural outlook of Hunan before 1949.
Yuelu Bookstore has compiled and published the complete works of Hunan scholars such as Chuanshan Quanshu, Wei Yuan Complete Works, Zeng Guofan Complete Works, Zuo Zongtang Complete Works, Hu Linyi Collection, Peng Yulin Collection, Ceng Guoquan Collection, Tao Shu Collection, etc. After full discussion, the editorial board has formulated the guiding opinions for reorganizing and proofreading these classics into the library, such as Chuanshan Quanshu, which lasted for 8 years. Huang Xingji, published by Zhonghua Book Company in 1981, has 396,000 words, and the revised library edition has been expanded to more than 700,000 words by adding Huang Xingji’s Collection (Hunan People’s Press, 2002) and many lost articles. The original 1984 edition of Cai Songpo Collection by Shanghai People’s Publishing House was about 750,000 words, and the revised library edition was renamed Cai E Collection, which was expanded to 1.14 million words. In the Qing Dynasty, Hunan Tongzhi, Changsha Fuzhi and Yuezhou Fuzhi, as well as a large number of Hunan people’s collections, historical biographies, monographs and ancient books of Hunan ethnic minorities, were collated and included in the library. Mao Zedong’s Early Manuscripts and the History of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Hunan (1920-1949) are also included. All the books in storage have been revised and re-revised by experts and editors.
Ma Meizhu of Yuelu Bookstore still remembers that they knew that there were 100 pages of Guo Songtao’s manuscripts in the Shandong Provincial Library. If they got the treasure, they quickly went to the Shandong Provincial Library to get these valuable materials. When I learned that Guo Songtao’s letters were in the British National Archives, I immediately contacted the British National Archives to ask them for support. The other party quickly took photos of all Guo Songtao’s archives and sent them on CD-ROM. Guo Songtao’s manuscript in Yunnan Provincial Library was also successfully copied. These hard-won manuscripts are all included in Guo Ji. Ma Meizhu said with deep emotion that it is worth 10 years of hard work for this big book.
Exhauste one’s efforts to ensure quality
Part B is written or compiled by modern people in Huxiang Studies Department, including seven parts: Huxiang history, figures, archaeology and ancient culture, Huxiang scenery, comprehensive research of Huxiang culture, compilation of Huxiang literature and history materials and Huxiang culture reference books, and each part is classified according to genre or content. Part B is not like Part A, as long as the selected bibliography is confirmed, there are ready-made documents to sort out, and most of the topics need to be collected by the authors. Xia Jianqin learned that some of Zhang Shizhao’s manuscripts that had never been published were in the hands of a collector in Beijing, so he specially went to Beijing to visit Zhang’s old daughter Zhang Hanzhi, and asked her to come forward to negotiate with the collector and provide copies for the collection editor. The collector made copies of all Zhang Shizhao’s poems. The rearranged Collection of Zhang Shizhao’s Poems contains more than 2,000 poems, plus couplets, which is 10 times more than the poems of The Complete Works of Zhang Shizhao published in Shanghai. Soon after Zhang Hanzhi’s death, Xia Jianqin heard of it and said, "That was close!"! If it weren’t for Ms. Zhang’s help, Zhang Shizhao’s Poetry Collection would have left irreparable regret.
The editors of the library have exhausted their efforts and been loyal to their duties, so that the quality of the library can live up to expectations. Fu Benqing, Hunan Education Publishing House, was assigned to edit Yang Zongji’s masterpiece Yang Zongji, a native of Ningyuan, the founder of the "Nine-style School" of Chinese Guqin. The original edition of this book is the block-printed edition in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China. The notation method is the reduction of characters, which is older than the Gongchi manual and few people can understand it. According to the requirements of the editorial board, all the works in Part B should be prefaced by professionals within 20,000 words, introducing the author’s experience and the academic value of the works. He found a well-known guqin player in Changsha, and no one could or would write. Finally, he went to Beijing to find Mr. Li Xiangting, president of the Guqin Professional Committee of China and professor of Guqin in the Central Conservatory of Music. Li Xiangting didn’t agree at first. He and Yang Zongji were not a sect, and he had no relationship with each other. Fu Benqing told Mr. Li Xiangting sincerely about the significance of the publication of Huxiang Library, and asked him to make a realistic introduction and comment on Yang’s series of piano studies, so that he could make his own comments academically. Li Xiangting was moved by Fu Benqing’s sincerity and promised to write a composition. After reviewing Mr. Li Xiangting’s article, Xia Jianqin said that the preface was very well written, and he made a truthful introduction and comment on Yang’s Series of Qinxue, with beautiful words.
Hard work, burn the ointment.
My head is poor, and I burn my ointment. Editing a set of excellent books of Huxiang Library, which integrates the essence of Hunan culture, contributes to the prosperity of future generations, takes the past as a mirror and applies it to the world. It must be from a first-class intelligent mind and painstaking people. Guo Tianmin, the late former vice president of Hunan Fine Arts Publishing House, retired as the design director of this series. At this time, he had already suffered from lung cancer, macular degeneration and heart stent surgery, but he threw himself into this publishing project with his feelings for Huxiang culture. He said that for a publisher, not everyone is so lucky.
This book binding design is face saving. Guo Tianmin is a "banner" in Hunan publishing industry. In order to reflect the distinctive regional characteristics of Huxiang in design, a "book label" that can reflect Huxiang culture is needed. After repeated argumentation and discussion, Guo Tianmin chose the Phoenix in the silk painting "The Dragon and Phoenix Lady" unearthed in the Chu Tomb of Chenjiadashan in Changsha in 1949 as the bookmark. "Phoenix" is closely related to the ancient Chu culture and is the totem of Huxiang culture. After his redrawing, the Phoenix bookmark with soaring head, vivid posture, concise shape and vigorous and smooth lines vividly shows the long history of Huxiang culture. On the cover design and material use of Huxiang Library, he selected black-gray cloth for the first edition, earth-gray cloth for the second edition, and seal characters for the font. From the color of the book, the thickness of the paper, the font on the cover, etc., the perfect visual effect is finally achieved. Guo Tianmin requires that every book in Huxiang Library should have a true spine, a round back and a hollow cavity, which is the first time among books published in Hunan. The compilation of 702 books in the Library was completed by 13 publishing houses and 9 printing houses. To achieve the complete consistency of book binding technology, the difficulty can be imagined. Guo Tianmin’s requirement is that the error is plus or minus one, that is, the error between all the words on the spine of each book should not exceed 0.1 mm, all the books should be in a line, and the white line at the bottom of the back of each book must be connected into a straight line.
On his deathbed, Guo Tianmin was still thinking about the printing of this set of books. Everyone came to see him, and the first thing he asked was, are the books coming out soon? Before the new book was sent to his hospital bed, he stroked the book with a faint scent of ink and showed a gratified smile on his face.
Emperor Wen of Sui, the old editor of Yuelu Bookstore who presided over the editing and proofreading of Chuanshan Quanshu and Liu Rongji, died on March 16th, 2010 at the age of 87, and failed to see the newly revised Chuanshan Quanshu published. In the publishing industry, it is said that Yang Lao is a good man, and he is very serious and responsible for editing. The books edited and proofread by him are all praised by his peers. David, a middle-aged scholar, Yu Will and Xiao Lisheng, a young editor, worked hard to compile Huxiang Library until the last moment of their lives.
Zuo Hanzhong of Hunan Fine Arts Publishing House was rehired as the project host of Huxiang Library when he was about to retire. He said that he had worked as an art social worker for nearly 30 years, and it took seven years to compile a set of books, namely Huxiang Library. These seven years have been bittersweet for him, with mixed feelings, which is beyond words. But he said something from the bottom of his heart: meeting and staying with Huxiang Library is my blessing. Isn’t this the true feelings of all library publishers!
Do one’s best and strive for perfection
Gong Shuguang, chairman of Hunan Zhongnan Media Group, solemnly promised to the editorial board on behalf of the group that he would complete the task on schedule without compromise. Hunan publishers, "There are many powerful publishing teams, and there is no army without Hunan", have the courage to seek great things, the style ability to do practical things, and the incomparable courage to be the first in the world. They have worked hard, painstakingly, and have no regrets. They have devoted themselves to their work according to the work arrangements of the group, and all the books belonging to Huxiang Library have been given a green light all the way to ensure that the publication of Huxiang Library will not be affected. According to incomplete statistics, nearly 100 editors and proofreaders from various groups of the group participated in the work of Huxiang Library. Nearly 400 monograph authors and proofreaders were invited, and 16 collective author units were invited.
Liu Mingtai recalled his work experience in Huxiang Library in the past 10 years, saying that it was a pioneering work in the publishing history of our province, and the task was glorious and arduous. He said the details of the work: the final determination and numbering of the topics in the library is a very important basic work, which requires that all the topics in the library should be carefully planned and measured before publication, and once they are determined, they cannot be changed. Some books and records have multiple volumes, while others are merged into one volume; The quality of some modern books may not meet the publishing requirements, and the number of words and albums in some final books may be different from the expected ones. This work is quite troublesome, and it requires a rigorous work attitude to make no mistakes. Ding Shuangping, general manager of Zhongnan Publishing Media Group, said that the implementation of this project will greatly promote and help the expansion of the publishing lineup, the combing of publishing resources and the expansion of future publishing content. In order to ensure the quality of book publishing, the Editorial Committee has formulated the Standardized Manual of Book Editing and proofreading and the Management Regulations of Huxiang Library on Editing and Publishing, which have been issued to all units for strict implementation.
In the prosperous times, the canon will be revised, and the final result will be positive.
It took 11 years from the compilation of Huxiang Library to the completion of the whole book. Zhu Jiangang, then director of Hunan Press and Publication Bureau and director of Huxiang Library Office, said that there has never been such a large-scale series of Huxiang Library in Hunan history, and its far-reaching influence and important value will not be truly reflected until decades, hundreds or even thousands of years after its publication. Its influence on cultural inheritance and future generations cannot be underestimated.
Zhang Guanghua, the executive deputy director of the editorial board, once borrowed a motto from Tong Ren Tang, "Seek treasures, though your taste is expensive, you will not dare to reduce material resources;" The lecture hall is famous, and although it is complicated, it will not dare to save labor. " To express my experience when reading the manuscript of the library. Now "Huxiang Library" has finally come to fruition. She said with great confidence that the graceful and magnificent "Huxiang Library" will last for a long time, and its cultural influence will definitely last forever.
All the books of Huxiang Library have been compiled and printed, which is an important achievement of a strong cultural province in our province. The State Press and Publication Administration, the Propaganda Department of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial Department of Finance, the Provincial Department of Culture, Hunan Publishing Investment Holding Group, the Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, the Provincial Local Records Editorial Committee, Hunan Library, the Provincial Museum, the Provincial Archives and other units have given strong support from all aspects. The publication of Huxiang Library is a national key cultural publishing boutique project with the largest scale, the strongest editing power, the highest technical elements and the most powerful efforts in Hunan publishing history.
The provincial party committee and government show Huxiang Library as a business card for Hunan’s cultural construction at home and abroad, and present it to all kinds of libraries (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) inside and outside the province. At the same time, they develop digital books of Huxiang Library, open websites and share the classic documents of Huxiang culture. This is the embodiment of the soft power of Hunan’s cultural construction, and the response is enthusiastic.
"Huxiang Library" ended in perfection. The appearance of this magnificent classic book is a symbol of the strength of Hunan’s comprehensive political, economic and cultural development.
History is left to us, and we are left to history.
