New Cultural Observation | This 110-year-old "time-honored brand" in the book industry is still brilliant

No. 36 Wangfujing Street, Beijing, Zhonghua Bookstore "Canran Bookstore" reopened earlier this year. While

welcomes new and old readers, Zhonghua Bookstore also celebrates its 110th birthday. The "time-honored brand" of the book industry solemnly announced "innovation to the future", which is the inheritance of the spirit and the expectation for the future.

On New Year's Day in 1912, under the building opposite the old patrol house on the east side of Fuzhou Road in Shanghai, "a small bookstore with only three stores" opened. This is Zhonghua Bookstore.

"We hope for the progress of the country and society, but we cannot but hope for the progress of education; we hope for the progress of education, but we cannot but hope for the progress of the book industry." The founder Mr. Lu Feikui wrote this sentence more than 100 years ago, and it is still engraved in the bookstore today. At the entrance of the hall, this publishing institution named "Zhonghua" has developed into one of the largest professional publishing institutions in China.

In the modern history of China, the publishing industry has always been an important force in spreading civilization, opening people's wisdom, and promoting social progress. With the birth of Zhonghua Book Company, the Zhonghua Textbook of Zhonghua Book Company became popular all over the country. Jin Chong and , experts in the history of the Communist Party of China and modern Chinese history who are more than ninety years old, recalled his story with Zhonghua Book Company and said with emotion: "I entered the Fudan High School attached to in 1941, and I didn't even go to junior high school. When I was 11 years old, my alma mater has kept my transcripts: I scored 98 points in the history of the first year of junior high school. The history textbook I read was published by Zhonghua Book Company, and the history of my country was compiled by Mr. Jin Zhaozi , deputy director of the editorial office of Zhonghua Book Company, foreign history. It was written by Jin Zhaozi and Geng Danru, which left a deep impression on me."

adheres to the purpose of "opening up people's wisdom", Zhonghua Book Company edited and published various textbooks, disseminated scientific and cultural knowledge, and promoted new education. Rapid rise into a large comprehensive publishing house, and soon attracted a large number of like-minded people: Liang Qichao , Fan Yuanlian, Ma Junwu , Li Da, Tian Han , Zhang Wentian, Pan Hannian, Xu Zhimo , Ye Shengtao , Zhu Ziqing , Chen Bochui , Mao Dun ... All the famous names have been assembled into a lineup of editors and writers who are like stars.

In this context, major projects such as " Kangxi Dictionary ", " Four Preparatory Notes ", " Ancient and Modern Books Integration " and other major projects have been published one after another, Rousseau " Civil Covenant Theory ", Adam Smith " Classic translations such as The Wealth of Nations " came out one after another, "integrating the quintessence of the country with Western learning". Zhonghua Book Company launched "Zhonghua Dictionary" and " Cihai ", which created a precedent for the compilation of modern reference books; it was the first to organize and publish the large-scale ancient book series "Four Books" in modern typography, and photocopied and published "Ancient and Modern", which is known as "ancient encyclopedia". Book Integration", which has cultural rescue significance.

After the founding of New China, Zhonghua Bookstore moved to Beijing. In 1958, the state established a planning group for the arrangement and publication of ancient books. Zhonghua Bookstore was the office of the group, and was given the new mission of the era of professionally arranging and publishing ancient books.

ancient books are treasures of Chinese civilization and an important carrier of inheritance of Chinese excellent traditional culture. With the joint efforts of many experts and scholar-type editors, a large number of finely calibrated and carefully examined classics have been published one after another, such as " Zizhi Tongjian ", " All Tang Poems ", " All Song Poems ", " Books of Fu Yuan Gui " " Oracle Bone Script Collection ", "Zhonghua Tripitaka", etc., have provided a large number of basic classics for academic research, and established a new historical position for Zhonghua Bookstore.

is the most eye-catching in the world. From 1958 to 1978, Zhonghua Book Company organized experts and scholars from all over the country to organize and publish the "Twenty-Four Histories" and " Qing History Drafts ". With the power of a top expert, this is the largest ancient book collation project in New China, which has created the most authoritative book in the academic circles at home and abroad. This set of books is considered to be the landmark achievement of the compilation and publication of ancient books in New China. It is known as the "standard book of national history" and has immeasurable significance for the inheritance of Chinese culture.

's meticulous review and refinement has become the "gene" of Zhonghua Book Company, and it has also won a high reputation for Zhonghua Book Company. Historian Gu Jiegang even asked in his will that all his works be published by Zhonghua Book Company.

partySince the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, with the increasing demand of the public for the excellent traditional Chinese culture, Zhonghua Bookstore has ushered in a new historical opportunity -

comprehensively promotes the revision project of the "Twenty-Four Histories" and "Drafts of Qing History", the revised version. "Historical Records", " New Five Dynasties History ", " Old Five Dynasties History ", " Liao History ", " Wei Shu ", "Song Shu", " Nan Qi Shu ", " Sui Shu ", "Golden History", Liang Shu ", " Chen Shu " have been published successively; major national publishing projects such as "Fuxing Wenku" and "Yongle Grand Ceremony" have been steadily advanced; " Wu Li Tong Kao " and other heavyweight books representing the level of ancient book organization have been launched one after another; "The Complete Annotation and Full Translation Series of Chinese Classics", "Chinese Classics Collection", "Chinese Character Story Collection" and other series of books are published to promote the excellent traditional Chinese culture; Waiting for the public readers to lead the fashion of classic reading; release the "Chinese Classic Ancient Books Library" to provide readers with more and more convenient query services, and make "checking ancient books at the fingertips of the palm" a reality...

continues After the "protection of ancient books" was first written into the government work report this year, the Central Office and the State Office issued the "Opinions on Promoting the Work of Ancient Books in the New Era" in April this year, injecting strong impetus into the academic publishing of ancient books.

"For Zhonghua Book Company, inheriting culture and promoting social progress is the inner spiritual power and the heavy mission of the times." Zhou Xuanlong, executive director of Zhonghua Book Company, said that he will adhere to "carry forward tradition, serve academics, inherit civilization, and innovate. The purpose of publication is to uphold integrity and innovation, promote the creative transformation and innovative development of Chinese excellent traditional culture, and make Chinese culture shine in a new era.

110 years old more brilliant. A century-old brand with innovation to the future.

reporter: Shi Jingnan

pictures provided by Zhonghua Book Company