Abstract
Based on literature search, this paper introduces and analyzes the book publishing situation of book publishing in the Publishing Department affiliated to Peking University Library. It is pointed out that the vast majority of book versions published by the publishing department affiliated to Peking University Library are printed in lead, and the books it publishes cover almost all disciplines, especially humanities and social sciences, many of which later became the foundation works of corresponding disciplines. The quality of the books published by modern Peking University Library is high, and they are distributed both on and off campus. Even today, this point has reference significance.
Keywords
Peking University Library, Peking University’s Publishing Department, Book Publishing, History of Publication
1. Introduction
In January 1904, the book-storage building of the Imperial University of Peking (京师大学堂藏书楼) was renamed as the library according to the “Presented University Regulation” (《奏定大学堂章程》), but the name of the library was still used externally book-storage building, that is, “the name of the book-storage building is still used in the building, and it is marked as the Library in the regulations” (Imperial University of Peking, 1993, p. 463). In May 1912, the Imperial University of Peking was renamed Peking University, and its book-storage building was also renamed Peking University Book Department (in December 1930, it was officially called the Library); Its editorial office has also been renamed as the Receiving and Distributing Lecture Room (收发讲义室) of Peking University, which is under the jurisdiction of the Library Department of Peking University. Afterwards, the lecture room under the jurisdiction of the Library Department was responsible for printing, managing, and distributing Peking University lecture materials. In December 1917, there were four staff members in the lecture room, namely the steward (the supervisor of the lecture room) Li Zhenyi (李振彝), and the secretary (the clerk of the lecture room) Lu Jinguang (鲁麐光), Jiang Yongnian (江永年), and Cheng Xuyi (程绪颐); “Detailed Rules for Handling Matters” (《办事细则》) stated: “The Receiving and Distributing Lecture Room is responsible for the following affairs under the orders of the principal, senior, and librarian: the managing is responsible for the receiving and issuing of Chinese and Western language lecture notes, the receipt, printing, and collection of (Chinese) and Western language lecture notes...” (Anonymous, 1917. p. 1) (National Peking University, 1918, p. 3, 22). In mid March 1918, the Peking University announced that “the number of printed materials in our university is increasing day by day, and now the Receiving and Distributing Lecture Room is specially changed to the Publishing Department, which is still under the jurisdiction of the library, with Li Zhenyi as the steward of this department” (Anonymous, 1918a, p. 3). On November 26, 1918, the “Draft Regulations of the Publishing Department” (《出版部规程草案》), published in the Peking University Daily (《北京大学日刊》) No. 259, stated: “This department is under the jurisdiction of the General Affairs Director” (Anonymous, 1918b, p. 3). At that time, Li Xinbai (李辛白) (1875-1951, formerly known as Xiulong and styled Xieshu) was the director of the General Affairs Office. In December 1919, he was appointed as the director of the upgraded Publishing Department (which was under the jurisdiction of the General Affairs Office, along with the Library Department, Instrument Department, and General Affairs Department). Based on this, it can be considered that publishing department of Peking University was no later than November 26, 1918, under the jurisdiction of the General Affairs Office, rather than the previous library (Book Department).
The main sources of literature information searched in this article are basically the same as my article “The Publishing of Books in Modern Chinese Libraries from the Perspective of Literature Statistics” (《从文献统计看中国近代图书馆的图书出版》) (published in the Journal of University Libraries, Volume 35, Issue 1, 2017), which includes the OPAC System of National Library, General Bibliography of the Republic of China (《民国时期总书目》, published by the Bibliographic Literature Publishing House from 1986 to 1996), the CALIS’s OPAC System, the “General Library of the Republic of China Period Republic of China Book Database” constructed by National Library of China Publishing House, National Public Library Microscale Literature Joint Catalogue(part of Republic of China) (《全国公共图书馆缩微文献联合目录(民国编)》, 18 volumes in total), Joint Catalogue of Historical Documents in the Anti Japanese War Rear Area of China (《中国抗战大后方历史文献联合目录》, published by Chongqing Publishing House in 2011), the CADAL Digital Library, and the Book Channel of the “DUxiu Database” (Wang X., 2017). Combining relevant information such as “University Ancient Literature Resource Database of Xueyuanjigu” (学苑汲古:高校古文献资源库), “Confucius Old Book Network” (孔夫子旧书网), and “Advertisements of Peking University’s Publishing Department” (《北京大学出版部广告》) and “English Book List” (《英文用书表》) printed in Peking University Daily.
2. Non Educational and Non Foreign Language Books Published by Peking University’s Publishing Department and Its Predecessors between 1912.5-1918.11 & Their Analysis
During literature search, it was found that some of the books in “advertisements of Peking University’s Publishing Department” and “advertisements of Peking University’s Law Publishing Department” carried in Peking University Daily were consistent, such as “advertisements of Peking University’s Publishing Department” published in August 10, 1918, No. 192, and “advertisements of Peking University’s Law Publishing Department” published in August 14, 1918, No. 193, both listed the English books selected or annotated by Wang Jianzu (王建祖, 1879-1935, another name Changxin/长信), a professor and head of law at Peking University, Readings in Economics and Finance (《经济财政时论选录》) and Public Finance of Bastable (《巴士得布财经学》), namely Public Finance (《公共财政学》) (Macmillan & Co., London, first edition in 1892) written by C. F. Bastable. The 93rd issue of Peking University Daily, published on March 16, 1918, contained an article titled “Confession of the Publishing Department of the Law Library”. The content of the article was related to advertisement of the Chinese version of Economic and Fiscal Affairs during European War (《欧洲战时之经济财政》) translated by Wang Shaoyou (王少右) and Chen Can (陈灿), senior students in the Law and Economics Department of Peking University. Through further research, it can be found that Chen Huai (陈怀, 1877-1922, another name Mengchong/孟冲, assumed name Xinbai/辛白), a professor of history at Peking University, wrote the lecture notes on liberal arts history at Peking University Summary of Qing History (《清史要略》). There are two initial versions **ailable: the 1918 edition by the Law Department of Peking University and the February 1920 edition by the Publishing Department of Peking University. Therefore, it can be considered that the Law Publishing Department of Peking University is under the jurisdiction of the Law Library (Branch of Peking University library) of Peking University, and later merged into the Publishing Department of the Peking University.
As of November 1918, among the books published by the Peking University’s Publishing Department, Peking University’s Law Publishing Department, and their predecessors, after searching, there were at least 57 non educational and non foreign language books (see Table 1).
Table 1. Statistics of Non Educational and Non Foreign Language Books Published by Peking University’s Publishing Department, Law Publishing Department, and Their Predecessors between 1912.5-1918.11
Version and Type | Title | Author | Publisher | First edition time | Type of Chinese Library Method |
mimeographed handout | Writings-ology | Shen Yinmo | Receiving and Distributing Lecture Room/Publishing Department of **U | 1913-1918 | literature |
lead printing handout | Academic Record (Model Selection) | Shen Yinmo | Receiving and Distributing Lecture Room/Publishing Department of **U | 1913-1918 | literature |
lead/oil edition | History of Ancient Chinese Literature | Zhu Xizu | Receiving and Distributing Lecture Room of **U | 1913-1917 | literature |
stone seal handout | History of Chinese Literature | Wu Mei | Receiving and Distributing Lecture Room of **U | 1917 | literature |
lead printing handout | Lecture Notes on Bill Law | Yu Jianchang | Receiving and Distributing Law Lecture Room of **U | 1917 | law |
lead printing handout | Lectures on World Civilization History | He Bingsong | Receiving and Distributing Lecture Room/Publishing Department of **U | 1917.9-1918.6 | history |
lead print | Lecture Notes on the History of Modern European Literature | Zhou Zuoren | Receiving and Distributing Lecture Room/Publishing Department of **U | 1917.9-1918.6 | literature |
lead printing handout | Lectures on the History of Chinese Finance | Hu Jun | Receiving and Distributing Lecture Room/Publishing Department of **U | 1917.9-1918.6 | economics |
lead printing handout | Roman Law (6 Part) | Zhang Yuquan | Receiving and Distributing Law Lecture Room/Publishing Department of **U | 1917.9-1918.6 | law |
lead print | Draft Maritime Ship Law | Zhou Jiayan | Receiving and Distributing Law Lecture Room/Publishing Department of **U | 1917.9-1918.6 | law |
lead printing handout | Commercial Law (Lecture Notes) | Zhou Jiayan | Receiving and Distributing Law Lecture Room/Publishing Department of **U | 1917.9-1918.6 | law |
lead print | Draft Business Conduct | Zhou Jiayan | Receiving and Distributing Law Lecture Room/Publishing Department of **U | 1917.9-1918.6 | law |
lead print | Draft German Criminal Law | Wang Yintai | Receiving and Distributing Law Lecture Room/Publishing Department of **U | 1917.9-1918.6 | law |
lead print | Company Regulations (Draft) | Zhou Jiaya | Receiving and Distributing Law Lecture Room/Publishing Department of **U | 1917.9-1918.6 | law |
lead print | Current International Law on War | Zhang Jiasen | Receiving and Distributing Law Lecture Room/Publishing Department of **U | 1917.9-1918.6 | law |
lead print | Economic and Finance during European War | Written by (JAP)Guiichi Horie; Translated by Wang Shaoyou and Chen Can | **U’s Law Publishing Department | 1918.3 | economics |
lead print | German War Economy | Written by (Swede) Karl Gust** Cassel; Translated by Chen Can | **U’s Law Publishing Department | 1918.4 | economics |
not in detail | Academic Lectures on Society and Education | not in detail | **U’s Publishing Department | 1918.5 | General of Social Sciences |
not in detail | Medical Academic Speech Record | not in detail | **U’s Publishing Department | 1918.5 | Medicine and Health |
lead printing handout | Introduction to Indian Philosophy (Lecture Notes) | Xu Dan and Liang Shuming | **U’s Publishing Department | In the first half of 1918 | philosophy |
mimeographed handout | Lecture Notes on Chinese History | Yang Minzeng | **U’s Publishing Department | In the first half of 1918 | history |
lead print | Lectures on Chinese History (Ancient History) | Yang Minzeng | **U’s Publishing Department | Before 1918.7 | history |
lead print | Lunyu Zuzheng Record | Cui Shi | **U’s Publishing Department | Before 1918.7 | literature |
Oil printing | Exploring the Origin of Shi Ji | Cui Shi | **U’s Publishing Department | Before 1918.8 | history |
mimeographed handout | Poetics Lecture Notes | Huangjie | **U’s Publishing Department | Before 1918.8 | literature |
lead print | Textology, Form and Meaning | Zhu Zonglai | **U’s Publishing Department | 1918.8 | Language and characters |
lead print | Poetics | Huangjie | **U’s Publishing Department | 1918.8 | literature |
lead print | Spring·Autumn Reviva | Cui Shi | **U’s Publishing Department | 1918.8 | history |
lead print | History of Western Ethics(Part 1 and Part 2) | Written by (JAP) Yoshida Jingzhian; Translated by Yang Changji | **U’s Publishing Department | 1918.9 | philosophy |
lead print | Human Geography of China (2 volumes) | Qian Zhenchun | **U’s Publishing Department | 1918.9 | geography |
lead print | Algebra Lecture Notes (Part 1 and Part 2) | Shi Hongzhu | **U’s Publishing Department | 1918.9 | mathematics |
lead print | Selected Model Works (Part A) | Cheng Yansheng | **U’s Publishing Department | 1918.9 | literature |
lead print | Current laws and regulations regarding the effective civil part | **U’s Publishing Department | 1918.9 | law | |
lead printing handout | Lecture Notes on Roman Law (Second Edition of Roman Law) | Huang Youchang | **U’s Law Publishing Department | 1918.10 | law |
lead print | Introduction to Philosophy | Chen Daqi | **U’s Publishing Department | 1918.10 | philosophy |
lead print | Algebra Lecture Notes (Part 3 and Part 4) | Shi Hongzhu | **U’s Publishing Department | 1918.11 | mathematics |
lead print | Lectures on Chinese History (Middle History) | Yang Minzeng | **U’s Publishing Department | 1918.11 | history |
not in detail | Fundamental Issues of Ethics (Volume 1) | Written by (German) Theodor Lipps; Translated by Yang Changji | **U’s Publishing Department | 1918.11 | philosophy |
lead print | History of Western Ethics (Part 3) | Written by (JAP) Yoshida Jingzhian; Translated by Yang Changji | **U’s Publishing Department | 1918.11 | philosophy |
lead print | Philology Phonology | Qian Xuantong | **U’s Publishing Department | 1918.11 | Language and characters |
lead print | (reprinted) Song piece (with legendary piece attached) | Written by (Ming D.) Yu Lansheng, and (Qing D.) Gao Yi; Collated by Wu Mei | **U’s Publishing Department | 1918.11 | literature |
lead print | (Reprint) Etymology | Written by (Song D.) Zhang Yan; Collated by Wu Mei | **U’s Publishing Department | 1918.11 | literature |
lead print | (Peking University Preparatory Course) Wen Fan (1-3 volumes, 6 books) | Lunming, Chen Huai, Lin Sun | **U’s Law Publishing Department | 1918.11/12 | literature |
lead print | New Introduction to Indian Philosophy (Lecture Notes on Indian Philosophy) | Liang Shuming | **U’s Publishing Department | In the second half of 1918 | philosophy |
lead print | A Brief Introduction to the History of Chinese Literature | Zhu Xizu | **U’s Publishing Department | 1918 | literature |
not in detail | Research on the Foundations of China (i.e. The Great Plan for Revitalizing the Country) | Hu Moqing (Chunlin) | **U’s Publishing Department | 1918 | politics |
lead print | Summary of Qing History | Chen Huai | **U’s Law Publishing Department | 1918 | history |
lead printing handout | Western Modern History | He Bingsong | **U’s Publishing Department | 1918 | history |
lead printing handout | The Beginning of Teaching Chinese Literature | Lin Sun (edited by Peking University) | **U’s Publishing Department | 1918 | literature |
lead print | (Reprint of) the Central Plains Phonology | (Yuan D.) Zhou Deqing | **U’s Publishing Department | 1918 | literature |
lead print | (reprinted) Qieyun Kao Wai Pian | (Qing D.)Chen Li | **U’s Publishing Department | 1918 | Language and characters |
lead print | Economic Terms in English and Index | Ma Yinchu | **U’s Law Publishing Department | 1918 | economics |
lead print | Draft Enforcement Law | Zuo Deming | **U’s Law Publishing Department | 1918 | law |
lead print | Draft Bankruptcy Law | Lin Xinggui | **U’s Law Publishing Department | 1918 | law |
lead print | Draft Bill Law | Zhou Jiayan | **U’s Law Publishing Department | 1918 | law |
not in detail | British Contract Law | Written by (English) Anson et al; Compiled by Liang Jingqin and Xue Ruxian | **U’s Law Publishing Department | 1918 | law |
mimeographed handout | Lectures on Chinese History | Cao Weikang | **U’s Publishing Department | 1918-1921 | history |
One of the on campus service functions of the Peking University Publishing Department and its predecessor, the Receiving and Distributing Lecture Room, is to distribute teaching materials. According to Table 1, most of the books published by the publishing departments affiliated with the library and their predecessors are derived from lecture notes written by teachers at Peking University. For example, Morphology and Meaning of Philology (《文字学形义篇》) written by Zhu Zonglai (朱宗莱, 1881-1919, styled Peng Xian/蓬仙, styled also Bu Xuan/布宣) is a lecture manuscript for the preparatory course “Philology” at Peking University taught by the author, which is consistent with Qian Xuantong’s Phonetics of Philology (《文字学音篇》); Introduction to Chinese Literature Lectures (《中国文学讲授发端》) compiled by Peking University is actually a lecture on “Chinese Literature” courses at Peking University, written by Lin Sun (林损, 1890-1940, also known as Gongduo/公铎, also known as Chuandu/攻渎, also known as Shulei/叔累) and used since 1918. Huang Jie (黄节, 1873-1935, formerly known as Huiwen/晦闻, with the courtesy name Yukun/玉昆 and the courtesy name Chunxi/纯熙)’s Poetics(《诗学》) is a revised version of his 1910 edition of The Origins of Poetics (《诗学源流》), published by the Publishing Department of Peking University in August 1918 and distributed on and off campus. The Origins of Poetics is a lecture on excellent teacher education in Guangdong and Guangxi, and printed by the Guangdong East Translation Company. In 1919, which was the year of the May Fourth Movement, the second edition of Poetics was released in September of that year. As its first edition was in 1918, Poetics was an academic work that emerged during the transition between the old and new eras in China. It was also “a pioneering work in modern research on Chinese poetry. Like Lin Chuanjia (林传甲)’s History of Chinese Literature (《中国文学史》), Wang Guowei (王国维)’s Examination of Song and Yuan Opera (《宋元戏曲考》), and Lu Xun (鲁迅)’s A Brief History of Chinese Novel (《中国小说史略》), it had the foundational significance of disciplinary construction” (Mao Q., 2000). Huang Jie taught at Peking University twice from 1917 to 1925 and from 1929 to 1934. The publishing department of Peking University has published and distributed the blueprint for his book Poetic (《诗学》), which is the oil printed version of his Lecture Notes on Poetics (《诗学讲义》), which he taught in the second and third years of the Chinese Literature Department in the humanities at Peking University. Lectures on Roman Law (《罗马法讲义》) by Huang Youchang (黄右昌1885-1970, styled Fuxin/黼馨, styled also Lou Jiangzi/溇江子) was a lead printed lecture published by the Law Publishing Department of Peking University in October 1918. It is a revised version of the Roman Law (《罗马法》) published by Huang during his teaching at Hunan Law and Political School in February 1915. Peking University President Cai Yuanpei (蔡元培) signed and wrote the preface (Cheng B., 2013). According to the book catalog of Peking University’s publishing department published in the late April 1919 Eastern Times Yuxing and the early May 1919 Shenbao, Cheng Xuan Model Wen (《程选模范文》) was priced at 4 cents in the ocean, while the reprint of Cheng Xuan Model Wen in the Yadong Library on November 20, 1919 (first edition of Peking University Youth China Society on August 15) and the first volume, second issue of Youth China (《少年中国》) magazine edited by Peking University Youth China Society were priced at 7 cents in the ocean. This is consistent with the lead printed version of Model Wen edited by Cheng Yansheng (程演生), published by Peking University Press in September 1918. The consistency of Selected Works of Model Literature (《模范文选》) indicates that before the publication of the lead printed version of Selected Works of Model Literature, the Peking University Publishing Department had published the lecture notes on Selected Works of Model Literature produced by the process actors (later also published the lecture notes on Selected Works of Model Literature edited by the Peking University Chinese Language Professors Association). After the Xinhai Revolution, the first county magistrate of Cixi County, Yang Minzeng (杨敏曾, 1858-1939, styled Xunzhai/逊斋), wrote Lectures on Chinese History(Ancient History) and Lectures on Chinese History (Middle History) which he taught during his second and third year history classes at Peking University. They h**e been printed and distributed both on and off campus (these two books were distributed by the Shanghai Yadong Library in 1919). The previous oil printed versions were Chinese History or Lectures on Chinese History, which continued the oil printed lectures on modern history of Ancient and Middle History. Chinese History was also printed in June 1920 (Publishing department, 1920, p. 2).
However, from 1912.5 to 1918.11, not all the lecture notes written by Peking University’s teachers were publicly **ailable, and some were always used on campus. In the “Version and Type” column of Table 1, any lecture notes marked with the words “handout” are for internal use and not for external distribution. For example, Wu Mei (吴梅, 1884-1939, also known as Qu An/瞿安 and Shuang Ya/霜厓), a master of modern Chinese poetry and music, once wrote a lecture: “History of Chinese Literature” (《中国文学史》) for the third year of the Chinese Literature Department at Peking University. In the “Version and Type” column of Table 1, the column labeled “stone seal handout” indicates that the work only has a stone seal version in the form of internal handout (which has been lost in China. Chen Pingyuan, a professor of the Chinese Department at Peking University, discovered and copied this handout from Wu Mei’s teaching of “History of Chinese Literature” at Peking University in the spring of 2004 in the library of the Institute of Sinology at the French Academy of Sciences) (Chen P., 2005a). It was not publicly released before the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Three Lectures on the History of Early Peking University Literature (《早期北大文学史讲义三种》) published and distributed by Peking University Press in September 2005 included Wu Mei’s History of Chinese Literature; Shen Yinmo (沈尹默, 1883-1971, styled Zhong and Qiuming/中、秋明, also known as Junmo/君墨 and Guiguzi/鬼谷子), a professor of preparatory studies at Peking University and director of the Institute of Chinese Literature, has only been able to pass down Academic Record (《学术文录》) as lecture notes in lead printing, and has not yet been published as a monograph. Therefore, the book is labeled as “lead printing handout” in the “Version and Type” column of Table 1.
Many of the books listed in Table 1 are pioneering works of this discipline. For example, from 1917 to 1918, Zhou Zuoren (周作人) wrote Lectures on the History of Modern European Literature (《近代欧洲文学史讲义》), which was “the first lecture on the history of European literature in China” and was regarded as “representing the highest level of academic research at that time”, “a model for the construction of literary history”, and “a insightful academic monograph”; Chen Daqi’s Introduction to Philosophy (《哲学概论》), published by the Peking University’s Publishing Department in October 1918, is the earliest philosophical monograph with a complete system in the history of modern Chinese philosophy. It has been reprinted more than 50 times and has had a great impact; The lecture notes Summary of Qing History written by Chen Huai for Peking University courses are the foundational work in the field of Qing history in China.
The books in Table 1 are some “interdisciplinary” books that people recognize. For example, the lecture notes: History of Ancient Chinese Literature (《中国古代文学史》) written by Zhu Xizu (朱希祖, 1878-1944) (formerly known as “General Theory”, printed in lead; the main text describes the literary history from the Yellow Emperor to the Warring States period, printed in oil) and Essentials of Chinese Literary History (《中国文学史要略》). Zhu Xizu, other name was Tixian/逷先 also known as Di Xian and Ti Xian/迪先、逖先, was born in Haiyan, Zhejiang Province. He was employed at Peking University in 1913 and served as a preparatory professor, liberal arts professor, director of the Institute of Chinese Literature, director of the Department of Chinese Literature, and director of the Department of History. He did not le**e until 1932. In the minds of most people, Zhu Xizu is a famous historian. However, in the first few years when Zhu Xizu arrived at Peking University, he taught the course of “History of Chinese Literature”, and the lecture notes: History of Ancient Chinese Literature and Essentials of Chinese Literature History were written for the course. According to the “Current Curriculum for Undergraduate Humanities” (《文科本科现行课程》) published in the Peking University Daily on November 29, 1917, Zhu Xizu taught “History of Ancient Chinese Literature (from ancient times to Jian’an)” to first-year students of Chinese Literature, “History of Ancient Chinese Literature” to second year students, and “Essentials of Chinese Literature History” to first and second year students of English Literature, but did not teach in the History Department. According to the “List of Disciplinary Courses at National Peking University” (《国立北京大学学科课程一览》) from 1919 to 1920, Zhu Xizu’s courses include: “Essentials of Chinese Literature History” (2 class hours), “Chinese Literature History (1)” (2 class hours) for those who want to specialize in Chinese literature, “Selected Chinese Poetry and Literature Masterpieces” (4 class hours), and “History of History” (1 class hour). It can be seen that it was only after Zhu Xizu became the head of the Department of History in 1920 that the courses offered by him gradually shifted to the field of history (Chen P., 2005b).
The title of a book in Table 1 can also reflect that some books are published in stages or h**e different versions. For example, History of Western Ethics (《西洋**学史》) written by a Japanese named Yoshida Jingzhi (吉田静致) and translated by Yang Changji (杨昌济) was first published in its first and second parts (priced at 0.25 silver dollar), followed by the third part (priced at 0.35 silver dollar); The fourth part of the book (priced at 0.4 silver dollar) was published and distributed by the Publishing Department of Peking University in May 1919; Not long after, the department released the full edition of the book (priced at 1 silver dollar), which is the same as the combined pricing of the first, second, third, and fourth editions. The same goes for The Fundamental Problems of Ethics (《**学之根本问题》), written by Theodor Lipps, a German author, and translated by Yang Changji. Peking University’s Publishing Department first published and distributed its first volume (priced at 0.25 silver dollar), The second volume of the book (priced at 0.25 silver dollar) was published in March 1919. According to Table 1, the publications of Peking University’s Publishing Department also include Chinese literature, Chinese language, and other categories of old songs and new plays, such as (reprinting) Zhongyuan Phonology (《(重印)中原音韵》), (reprinting) Qieyun Kaowai Pian (《(重印)切韵考外篇》), as well as (reprinted) Song piece (《(重印)曲品》) and (Reprint) Etymology (《(重印)词源》) collated by Wu Mei.
3. Educational Books Published by Peking University’s Publishing Department and Its Predecessors between 1912.5-1918.11& Their Analysis
“Compiling and printing promotional materials on campus is also one of the responsibilities of the university’s publishing department. The publishing department of Peking University... has also undertaken the task of producing commemorative books for university anniversary on multiple occasions. Unlike formal book editing and publishing, the fundamental purpose of the above book and magazine compilation is to serve the daily work of the university, rather than external publication and distribution. Compiling and printing these materials is not profitable and only incurs cost expenses” (Jin X., 2021). In addition to the books published in Table 1, Publishing Department of Peking University and its predecessor also published special books such as “Classmates Record”, “Employee Record”, and “Regulations” of Peking University from May 1912 to November 1918. Their classification of Chinese Library Classification belongs to “education”. In addition to the aforementioned sources of literature information, retrieval tools include them such as Wang Canchi’s Beijing Historical and Geographical Records (《北京史地风物书录》) (published by Beijing Publishing House in November 1985) and the database “Hanwen Republic of China Library” (瀚文民国书库) developed by Beijing Hanwen Collection Culture Co., Ltd. There are at least 8 types of publications in this category (see Table 2).
Table 2. Statistics of Educational Books Published by Peking University’s Publishing Department, Law Publishing Department, and Their Predecessors between 1912.5-1918.11
Version | Title | Author | Publisher | First edition time |
not in detail | University Preparatory Student Record(大学豫科同学录) | National Peking University | Peking University | 1912 |
lead print | Disciplinary Regulations of National Peking University | National Peking University | Receiving and Distributing Lecture Room of **U | 1916.4 |
oil printing | Staff Record of Peking University | National Peking University | Receiving and Distributing Lecture Room of **U | 1917.5 |
lead print | Staff Record of Peking University | National Peking University | Receiving and Distributing Lecture Room of **U | 1918.2 |
lead print | 20th Anniversary Album of National Peking University | Xu Baohuang et al (徐宝璜等) | Publishing Department of **U | 1918.6 |
Oil printing | Overview of Humanities at Peking University (7th year of the Republic of China) | National Peking University | Publishing Department of **U | 1918 |
lead print | Regulations of National Peking University (from 6th to 7th year of the Republic of China) | National Peking University | Publishing Department of **U | 1918 |
lead print | Regulations of National Peking University (recently revised in 7th year of the Republic of China) | National Peking University | Publishing Department of **U | 1918 |
The books listed in Table 2 are of great significance for studying the history of Peking University.
4. Foreign Language Books Published by Peking University’s Publishing Department and Its Predecessors between 1912.5-1918.11& Their Analysis
From May 1912 to November 1918, the Publishing Department of Peking University and its predecessor also published foreign language books used by Peking University’s teachers for teaching. This is because the original foreign language books are expensive, and teachers & students generally find it difficult to bear the high purchase costs, which hinders the smooth progress of teaching work. In response to this situation, the Publishing Department of Peking University seized the opportunity when China had not yet joined the international copyright organization to print foreign books with relative freedom, and launched the business of reprinting foreign books. As there were no royalties and only printing costs were required, the cost of purchasing foreign books was greatly reduced. The development of this business is not only welcomed by teachers and students of Peking University, but also by other universities and even the national cultural and educational community (Jin X., 2013). These foreign language books can be seen from the articles and advertisements published in the Peking University Daily in 1918. For example, on May 31, 1918, Peking University Daily published a notice from the publishing department stating: “A new textbook of Bernard Shaw drama was published, priced at 0.7 silver dollar per volume, with local students charged at a 20% discount and off campus wholesale charged at a 10% discount” (Publishing department, 1918a, p. 1). According to the “Peking University Publishing Department Advertisement” published in Peking University Daily on August 10, 1918, the English textbook for Bernard Shaw drama was one volume, compiled by Tao Menghe (陶孟和, 1888-1960, formerly known as Lu Gong/履恭), who was then a professor of undergraduate of liberal arts (文本科) and director of the Philosophy Professorship (哲学教授会) at Peking University. These foreign language books at least include Hu Shi’s Selected Contemporary Drams (《近世欧洲名剧选刊》), A new selection of English Essays (《(新编)英国散文选刊》) authored by Yang Yinqing (杨荫庆, 1888-?, also known as Ziyu/子馀, formerly known as Qingyin/庆荫), Wang Jianzu’s Readings in Economicsand Finance and Public Finance of Bastable, English History (《英国史》, i.e., Facts of English History), and Western Civilization History (《西洋文明史》) (i.e., Civilization: An historical review of its elements written by Charles Morris, who was an American journalist, novelist, and popular history textbook author, first edition in 1890), and so on (Publishing department, 1918c, p. 1). Based on the literature clues in “Advertisement of Peking University’s Publishing Department” published in Peking University Daily (December 9, 1918, No. 267), there were at least 17 foreign language books published by the Peking University’s Publishing Department, Law Publishing Department, and their predecessors from May 1912 to November 1918 (see Table 3).
Table 3. Statistics of Foreign language Books Published by Peking University’s Publishing Department, Law Publishing Department, and Their Predecessors between 1912.5-1918.11
Title | Author/Selector | Publisher | First edition time | Type of Chinese Library Method |
Selected Contemporary Dramas | Hu Shi | Publishing Department of **U | before 1918.7 | literature |
Bernard Shaw(萧伯讷剧) | Tao Menghe | Publishing Department of **U | before 1918.7 | literature |
A new selection of English Essays | Yang Yinqing | Publishing Department of **U | before 1918.7 | literature |
Berlitz: Premier liver(法文版《第一本书》) | L. Lazarus Zamenhof | Publishing Department of **U | 1918.8 | Language and characters |
Latin outline (French definition) | (German)Merz(梅理慈) | **U’s Law Publishing Department | before 1918.11 | Language and characters |
Latin outline (German definition) | (German)Merz | **U’s Law Publishing Department | before 1918.11 | Language and characters |
Latin exercise (French definition) | (German)Merz | **U’s Law Publishing Department | before 1918.11 | Language and characters |
Latin exercise (German definition) | (German)Merz | **U’s Law Publishing Department | before 1918.11 | Language and characters |
English Essays(英国散文, i.e. English Prose) | John Matthews Manly | Publishing Department of **U | 1918 | literature |
Readings in Economics and Finance | Wang Jianzu | **U’s Law Publishing Department | 1918 | economics |
Public Finance of Bastable | Wang Jianzu | **U’s Law Publishing Department | 1918 | economics |
English History (英国史, i.e. Facts of English History selected byEdward Werner) | D**id H. Montgomery | Publishing Department of **U | 1918 | history |
Civilization: An historical review of its elements | (American)Charles Morris | Publishing Department of **U | 1918 | history |
La Question D’Argent(法文戏曲《金钱问题》) | (French)Alexandre Dumas, fils | Publishing Department of **U | 1918 | literature |
Lingua Latina(拉丁文) | Gu Hongming | Publishing Department of **U | 1918 | Language and characters |
Logik von Dr. Th. Elsenhans mit 13 Textfiguren (i.e. Psychologie und Logik Published in Germany in 1909) | (German)Theodor Elsenhans | Publishing Department of **U | 1918 | philosophy |
Selected German Scientific Papers (德意志科学论文选录) | Gu Zhaoxiong | Publishing Department of **U | 1918 | collection |
The type of most of the foreign language textbooks or reference books selected or authored by teachers for students in the English, French, German, and preparatory of Peking University in Table 3, is “literature” or “Language and characters”. They are mostly printed by the Publishing Department of Peking University and publicly distributed on and off campus. If they are reprinted from the original work, the price is much cheaper.
5. Conclusion
The books published by Publishing Department of Peking University affiliated the Library include lead print, stone print, oil print, photocopy, etc., with the vast majority being lead print. For books of the same kind that are publicly distributed, the price of oil printed copies is generally cheaper than their lead printed copies. For example, Exploring the Origin of Shi Ji (《史记探源》) written by Cui Shi (崔适, 1852-1924, styled Huaijin/怀瑾, or Zhifu/觯甫) was distributed in the form of lecture notes both on campus and off campus before the first edition of the lead printed version of the book was published by the Peking University’s Publishing Department in June 1922: The book is **ailable in two volumes, both oil and lead, with the price of the oil printed version being 0.6 silver dollar (Publishing department, 1918b, p. 1), and through reference, both Exploring the Origin of Shi Ji(Volumes 1-4) and Exploring the Origin of Shi Ji(Volume 5-8) lead printed by Peking University’s Publishing Department in June 1922 were priced at 0.8 silver dollar, so the total price of Exploring the Origin of Shi Ji published in June 1922 was 1.6 silver dollar, which is 1 silver dollar more than the oil print version. During this period, the books published and distributed by Peking University’s Publishing Department focused on humanities and social sciences, which, as the saying goes, “reflected the spirit and pursuit of humanities” (Ai L., 1999). Many of them later became the foundational works of corresponding disciplines. The Chinese and foreign language books printed by it include lecture notes only distributed on campus, as well as those that rely on the academic influence of Peking University at that time and are publicly distributed both on and off campus. Even today, this point has reference significance.
References
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Anonymous. (1918a, March 15). The university’s publishing department was established. Peking University Daily.
Anonymous. (1918b, November 26). Draft regulations of the Publishing Department. Peking University Daily.
Chen, P. (2005a). The “literary history” that should not be forgotten: On the History of Chinese Literature Written by Wu Mei and Collected by France Institute of Chinese Studies. Journal of Peking University (Philosophy and Social Sciences), 42(1), 70-76.
Chen, P. (2005b). Three Lectures on the History of Early Peking University Literature. Chinese Book Review Monthly, (10), 40-45.
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Jin, X. (2021). A Survey on the Printing Activities of Handouts——Taking the Publishing Department of Peking University in the Period of Republic of China as the Center. Print Culture (Chinese and English), (2), 124-133.
Mao, Q. (2000). Study of Huang Jie’s Poetics. Journal of Peking University (Philosophy and Social Sciences), 37(3), 121-126.
National Peking University. (1918). Personnel Record of Peking University. Receiving and Distributing Lecture Room of Peking University, Beijing.
Publishing department. (1918a, May 31). Public Notification of Publishing Department. Peking University Daily.
Publishing department. (1918b, August 8). Advertisement of Peking University’s Publishing Department. Peking University Daily.
Publishing department. (1918c, November 26). Advertisement of Peking University’s Publishing Department. Peking University Daily.
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Wang, X. (2017). The Book Publishing of Chinese Modern Library by Literature Statistics. Journal of Academic Libraries, 35(1), 112-123.
This article in Journal of Asian Research, 2024, Vol. 8, No. 2, 查看原文:The Publishing Department of Modern Peking University Library and Its Predecessor’s Book Publishing.pdf。中译文链接:
近代北大图书馆所属出版部及其前身的图出版.pdf。