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International Cooperation

   
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  • 2014-10-27
Taiwan Resource Center for Chinese Studies Enters Europe in 2014: First Stop—Leiden University in the Netherlands
Taiwan Resource Center for Chinese Studies Enters Europe in 2014: First Stop—Leiden University in the Netherlands

On October 27 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, National Central Library’s Director-general Shu-hsien Tseng and Leiden University library’s director Kurt De Belder signed a cooperative memorandum to establish a Taiwan Resource Center for Chinese Studies in the presence of Representative James K. J. Lee and Deputy Representative Lung-teng Chiu of the Taipei Representative Office in the Netherlands, Director Hui-wen Xu of Education Division of Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium, Professor Hilde De Weerdt from Leiden University, and other dignitaries, professors, and overseas Chinese. The opening ceremony followed the signing.
The first time NCL and Leiden University’s Sinological Institute Library worked together was on a Union Catalog of Chinese Rare Books Database project in July 2008. This second collaboration further established a resource platform for promoting Chinese studies.
Taiwan’s “Center for Chinese Studies” was established in 1981. It is co-managed by National Central Library and has achieved much in terms of the acquisition of Chinese study materials, dynamic reporting, publication of books and journals, establishment of databases, awarding of foreign scholar grants, and holding scholarly events. It is well recognized by the academic community both in Taiwan and abroad. To further promote international scholarly exchange, in 2012 NCL began actively working with prestigious universities and important Chinese studies institutions to establish TRCCS, with the hope that it will expand scholarly resources in Taiwan Chinese studies, enlarge the scope of exchange between Taiwan and sinologists abroad, and increase the tolerance between different cultures.
Leiden University was established in 1575 and has acquired a rich history in the last 439 years. Beginning in 1890, Leiden’s sinologists collaborated with other European sinologists and began publishing T’oung Pao, which is still in publication today and is one of the three most influential publications on Chinese studies in the West.
Leiden University’s East Asian Library has approximately 300,000 volumes on Chinese studies collection, and nearly 100 journal titles originating from Taiwan and other Asian countries, the United States and Europe, as well as many precious rare Chinese books. This library has the largest Chinese studies collection in the country, and actually it is one of the biggest in Europe. Research in Chinese studies began early here and has proven very influential, making the university a main hub of Chinese studies—not only in the Netherlands but also throughout Europe.
With the support and assistance of Leiden University and Representative Lee from the Taipei Representative Office, the 9th Taiwan Resource Center for Chinese Studies was established.
During Director-general Tseng’s remarks, she especially thanked all involved for their concerted effort in turning a new page in the history of NCL’s overseas efforts in spreading Chinese studies. Director-general Tseng also stated that NCL has continued to hold talks with other countries to establish other centers and that 12 centers should be established by the end of the year. These centers help promote Taiwan’s achievements in scholarly research and publication, as well as increase opportunities for international exchange.
After the ceremony, Director-general Tseng donated replicas of the Annotated Poetry of Su Dongpo, a national treasure of the Republic of China that is more than 800 years old, and the Buddhist Diamond Sutra. It is hoped that these donations will add to Leiden University Library’s collection, serve as a witness to this historic moment in collaboration between the two libraries, and provide opportunities for further collaboration.
Leiden University library director, Kurt De Belder, also spoke and thanked National Central Library for donating ancient national treasures, as well as providing Taiwanese publications and e-resources on Chinese studies, enabling faculty, students, and researchers more access to abundant resources.
On the same day as the opening ceremony, Leiden University’s East Asian Library curator of Chinese special collections Koos Kuiper took the group from NCL on a tour of the ancient Chinese books in their special collections. Many of these works were donated by earlier sinologists and thus bear the name of the donors, such as the Van Gulik Collection in remembrance of Professor Van Gulik. Most of the works are of Ming and Qing literature, art, music, and popular novels. Go Collection comprises most of the personal Chinese library of Go Sian Lok(1874-1943), a Chinese merchant in the Netherlands Indies who had received a traditional Chinese education. Hulsewé Collection contains the sinological library of Prof. Dr. A.F.P. Hulsewé (1910-1993), who was professor of Chinese in Leiden from 1956 to 1975. The majority of these works represent the special interests of Prof. Hulsewé: ancient Chinese law, the history and archaeology of the Han dynasty, and the early history of the Western regions (Xinjiang). KNAG collection contains parts of the personal Chinese libraries of four nineteenth-century Dutch sinologists who worked as interpreters in the Netherlands Indies (G. Schlegel, C.F.M. de Grijs, J. van der Spek, B.A.J. van Wettum). Gützlaff Collection consists of Chinese Protestant works from before about 1855 and contains 109 titles. The Chinese library also has a growing collection of local histories of the Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing dynasties and the Republican period, as well as Chinese movies, videos, art and material culture.

1031027-1合影

Director-general Tseng, Director Kurt De Belder and Representative James K. J. Lee pose for a group photo

1031027-2致詞

Remarks by the Director Kurt De Belder, Representative James K. J. Lee, Professor Hilde De Weerdt and Director-general Tseng at the opening ceremony

1031027-3簽約

NCL’s Director-general Tseng and Leiden University library’s director Kurt De Belder sign a cooperative memorandum and exchange gifts during the opening ceremony.

1031027-4合影與DVD

All honored guests pose for a group photo after the signing ceremony.

1031027-5參觀

The curator of Chinese special collections Koos Kuiper takes the group from NCL on a tour of the ancient Chinese books in their special collections after the signing ceremony.

1031027-6揭幕

The Taiwan Resource Center for Chinese Studies is unveiled at Leiden University

1031027-7東亞館

The East Asian Library of Leiden University

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Behind the scenes of the signing and openings ceremony

1031027-01旅館

NCL staffs are folding cartons as gifts for foreign guests.

1031027-02校園

Director-general Tseng and NCL staffs pose for photos beside the canal near Leiden University and in front of the former residence of Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn.

1031027-03

In the Leiden University library

1031027-04

The Leiden University Library’s facilities

1031027-05

NCL staffs and the guide of the Leiden University library pose for a group photo.

1031027-06

The Leiden Library is brightened with vivid oranges.

Last Update Time:2015-05-19