The elegant letter paper, the weighty Song Dynasty rubbings and inscriptions, the natural flow of handwritten notes and colophons, all discuss the collection of ancient books and rubbings... On November 17, the annual exhibition of the Shanghai Library's collection, "Inheriting the Beauty of Antiquity: The Suzhou Pan Family's Collection of Classical Books and Documents from the Shanghai Library," opened at the East Branch of the Shanghai Library (officially open to the public on November 18). The 159 sets (pieces) of exhibits systematically showcase the history of classical book collection of the Suzhou Pan family from the early Qing Dynasty to modern times, spanning six generations.
This is a story about the collection and hoarding of books by the gentry of Jiangnan. The Paper saw at the scene that the letters exchanged between Pan Zuyin and a large number of friends on display all discussed the collection of ancient books and rubbings.
The Pan family of Suzhou originated from Shexian County, Anhui Province, and migrated to Suzhou during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, gradually transforming from merchants into a gentry family. During the Qianlong era, Pan Yijun became the family's first Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), ushering in a golden age of continuous succession in the imperial examinations, earning the family the reputation of "the most outstanding family in Suzhou." Family members such as Pan Shi'en and Pan Zuyin held high-ranking official positions and were also dedicated to collecting classical books, forming a family tradition of "reading, collecting, writing, and printing books."
Exhibition site
The Shanghai Library is a major repository of documents and family collections of the Pan family of Suzhou. This exhibition showcases 159 sets (pieces) of documents and family collections of the Pan family of Suzhou, of which 157 sets (pieces) are from the Shanghai Library and 2 sets (pieces) are from the Nanjing Library. They cover a variety of categories, including ancient books, rubbings, letters, calligraphy and paintings.
Song Dynasty woodblock print edition of "Jinshi Lu"
Song Dynasty woodblock print edition of "The Collected Works of Du Fu"
"The tradition of book collecting in the Pan family of Suzhou began with Pan Yijun, the first scholar to pass the imperial examination, reached its peak with Pan Zuyin, and then continued through the brothers Pan Boshan and Pan Jingzheng, spanning six generations." Liang Ying, the curator of the exhibition and associate research librarian at the Shanghai Library, told The Paper. "The exhibition not only presents the finest books collected by the Pan family, but also attempts to reflect the family's activities surrounding books to a certain extent through background documents. In this way, visitors can not only know what the family collected, but also understand how the family members collected these books."
"West Garden Map" painted by Cheng Tinglu et al. for Pan Zunqi.
Entering the exhibition hall and following the exhibition route, the first section, which runs around the outer ring, focuses on "The Writings and Social Circles of the Pan Family." It displays a large number of manuscripts, letters, calligraphy, and paintings. These include Pan Yijun's hand-compiled "Sansongtang Yusujiancun," Pan Shi'en's self-compiled chronology, poems, and family letters, Cheng Tinglu and others' "Xipu Tu" for Pan Zunqi, and a large number of letters exchanged between Pan Zuyin and his friends. These works weave a network of literary relationships across time and space for the audience, deeply interpreting the core interests of book collecting culture in Jiangnan and even China.
For example, from the correspondence between Pan Zuyin and Shen Shuyong, Wu Dacheng, Wang Yirong, Chen Jieqi, Zhang Zhidong and others, we can clearly see many specific processes of Pan Zuyin's book collecting activities, as well as some of his specific ideas.
Pan Zuyin's letter to Li Hongzao
In a letter from Pan Zuyin to Li Hongzao, he mentioned that he had acquired a Song and Yuan dynasty edition at a low price, which he described as "something I have never done before in my life, and I am extremely happy about it."
Pan Zuyin's letter to Shen Shuyong at the exhibition
Pan Zuyin's Letter to Shen Shuyong
The letters from Pan Zuyin to Shen Shuyong all discuss the collection of ancient books and rubbings; the letters from Chen Jieqi to Pan Zuyin discuss the collection of inscriptions on metal and stone and bronze artifacts; and the letters from Pan Zuyin to Wu Dacheng mainly discuss the exchange of Song Dynasty printed books for Zhongchi Pan.
Chen Jieqi's letter to Pan Zuyin
Pan Zuyin's letter to Wu Dacheng
According to Wang Junjie of the Historical Documents Center of Shanghai Library, a set of documents related to the Meng Ding and Ke Ding in the exhibition not only records in detail the events surrounding the acquisition of the Meng Ding and Ke Ding by Pan Zuyin at Pangu Tower, but also leaves valuable historical materials and research results for later generations. In this set of correspondence between Pan Zuyin and Chen Jieqi and Zuo Zongtang, the transportation of the ding (a type of ancient Chinese bronze vessel), the controversy surrounding its authenticity, and the anxiety expressed are detailed. In the letters, Pan Zuyin repeatedly inquired about the transportation of the Meng Ding.
Zuo Zongtang's letter to Pan Zuyin
During the Xianfeng era, when Pan Zuyin served as Minister of Works, he recommended Zuo Zongtang. Zuo Zongtang presented a bronze tripod to repay the kindness shown to him. In this letter from Zuo Zongtang to Pan Zuyin dated September 18, 1874, we know that the delayed shipment of the Meng Ding had caused Pan Zuyin great anxiety. This letter from Zuo Zongtang explains the reason why the tripod had not yet been shipped.
Letter from Pan Zuyin to Chen Jieqi
After the Meng Ding and Ke Ding were acquired by the Tibetan authorities, Pan Zuyin spared no effort in collecting rubbings and organizing a group of epigraphers to study and interpret them. The results were compiled into the interpretations of the Meng Ding and Ke Ding, and the manuscripts of the interpretations of the Meng Ding and Ke Ding are also on display in this exhibition.
A corner of the exhibition hall
The central section of the circular layout is the second section, focusing on "The Pan Family's Collection of Classical Books," with particular emphasis on the Pan Zuyin Pangxi Studio and the Pan Boshan and Pan Jingzheng Baoshan Studios. The most valuable and rare books in the Shanghai Library's collection, such as Song and Yuan dynasty woodblock prints from the Pan Zuyin collection and unique surviving Song dynasty rubbings, are all exhibited in this section.
Song Dynasty edition of "Dongguan Yulun"
The ancient books collected by Pangxizhai are mainly Song and Yuan dynasty woodblock prints. This exhibition displays nearly twenty Song dynasty editions from Pangxizhai’s collection, such as “Dongguan Yulun”, four kinds of “Suanjing”, and “Shilang Gegong Guiyu Ji”, all of which are unique copies in China. There is also a ten-volume incomplete copy of “Jinshi Lu”, which has been passed down by famous collectors and has many inscriptions.
Song Dynasty woodblock print edition of "Jinshi Lu"
The collection in Baoshanlou mainly consists of manuscripts and collated editions by famous scholars, such as the original manuscript of Qingxushanfang Collection compiled by Wang Chang, the early manuscript of Zuo Zhuan by Zhang Taiyan, the handwritten copy of Lu Youcheng Daohailu by Wang Naizhao, and the collated edition of Han Shu by Chen Zhuo, all of which enjoy great renown in academic circles.
Many of the exhibits are being publicly displayed for the first time, such as Tang Yin's hand-annotated Song Dynasty edition of "Zizhi Tongjian Jishi Benmo" and a Song Dynasty rubbing of the unique "Tea Record".
A rare Song Dynasty rubbing of the "Tea Record"
(Note: This exhibition will run until February 28, 2026. Some exhibits will be rotated during the exhibition period.)
