Translated version of the press release here (Editor: Pei Gang)
On 4 August 2025, the National Library of China held a donation ceremony.
Renowned collectors Liu Gang and Chen Yu, along with their spouse, donated 630
types of precious ancient books, maps, and related publications – totalling 3,026
volumes (or pieces) – that they had meticulously collected and preserved over
several decades, to the National Library of China without any form of compensation.
This collection of literary treasures spans a vast timeframe and encompasses a wide
range of subjects, with its highlights concentrated in fields such as astronomy,
geography, mathematics, philosophy, traditional Chinese medicine, health
preservation, and metaphysics, making it of significant academic research value.

In China, there are already very few collectors who have established specialised
collections of ancient texts, and collectors like Liu Gang and Chen Yu, who have
built a collection system with intellectual depth, are even rarer.

Among the numerous donated items is a copy of an ancient map titled ‘Map
of Tribute-Paying Nations from All Over the World.’ Since its existence and
some details were first publicly disclosed by the internationally authoritative
magazine The Economist in January 2006, this map has sparked sustained and
intense debate within the global historical, cartographic, and Sinological
communities, emerging as one of the most controversial and research-worthy
ancient maps of global significance. The copy faithfully reflects the
information of the original ancient map. The world outline depicted in the map,
the foreign place names and customs marked, and especially the geographical
information contained therein that transcends the mainstream understanding of
the time, have been interpreted by some scholars as potentially challenging or
supplementing existing narratives regarding the Age of Discovery, ancient
Chinese worldviews, and the history of Sino-foreign exchanges.

Research into its authenticity, date of creation, information sources, and historical context
has formed an important research topic in the international field of cartographic
history over the past two decades. The inclusion of this copy of the ‘Map of
Tribute-Paying Nations’ in the National Library of China, a national-level
research institution, undoubtedly opens up new and more convenient academic
channels for domestic and international scholars to conduct close-up and
in-depth research into the rich historical codes and diverse cultural values
it contains, and is expected to drive related research to a deeper level.

Donation ceremony
The donation by Liu Gang and Chen Yu was one of the most significant and valuable
private donations received by the National Library of China since 1949,
particularly in the fields of ancient maps and specialised literature. This
collection of precious documents has not only greatly enriched the National
Library’s collection system but has also significantly expanded its holdings
in areas such as the history of science and technology, the history of ideas,
and the history of Sino-foreign exchanges. The National Library has included
this collection in its ‘Ancient Books Special Collection’ for permanent
preservation, further highlighting the unique value and profound significance
of these documents. The significance of Liu Gang and Chen Yu’s donation to the
National Library lies in the transformation of ‘private collections’ into
‘public assets,’ ensuring that the achievements of millennia of civilisation
are preserved for future generations and benefit the public.

Read more online here.