|
 Printer-Friendly Version
Remarks Prepared for Delivery by
U.S. Secretary of
Labor Elaine L. Chao
75th Anniversary of the Chinese Collection
of the Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Friday, October 31,
2003
Thank you, Dr. Billington [James H. Billington, Librarian of
Congress]. I want to commend you for your leadership of the Library and
your strong support of the Chinese Collection.
Let me begin by noting the 75th anniversary of the Chinese
Collection of the Library of Congress!
Just before lunch, I was delighted to have a brief tour of the Chinese
Collection with Dr. Hwa-Wei Lee, Chief of the Asian Division, Dr. Chi Wang,
Director of the Chinese Collection and Dr. Mi Chu Wiens of the Asian Division.
What a magnificent collection!
The Library of Congress houses the largest and most comprehensive
collection of Chinese books, scrolls, maps and manuscripts in the United
States. And it is home to one of the finest and largest Chinese collections in
the world.
The directors of several of the other great Asian collections in
America—including Princeton, Harvard and the University of
Chicago—are here today. I know you will agree that the Chinese collection
in the Library of Congress is our crown jewel. It is a treasure within a
treasure because it is housed in America’s greatest cultural institution
and the largest library in the world.
I congratulate the Board of Directors, the staff and all the private
donors and benefactors who have supported and sustained this wonderful national
treasure.
Some of those benefactors and supporters are here today, including
Ambassador David Dean, Ambassador Charles Freeman and Ambassador James Lilley.
All of you here today know firsthand the value of this great collection in
helping Americans—and the world—understand and appreciate Chinese
history and culture.
Thousands of students and scholars have come through these doors seeking
knowledge since the collection first opened in 1928. In fact, the
Collection’s Director, Dr. Wang—who has been here for 45
years—tells me that graduate students in Chinese studies cannot complete
their work without using its resources.
Some of the remarkable treasures that can be found here include a
Buddhist Sutra dating from 975 AD, the oldest printed object in the
collection.
And there are wonderful 6th century Buddhist scrolls from the
caves of Dunhuang province. These caves in western China hold a treasure trove
of ancient murals, paintings and scrolls that are being preserved for history.
We are so fortunate to have 8 of these scrolls here in America.
And the rarest and most priceless treasure in the collection is the 41
volumes of the great Yongle encyclopedia from the Ming Dynasty. As many of you
know, this encyclopedia is the oldest encyclopedia in the world. It once
comprised 11,095 books, all written in hand. Just imagine 2,000 scholars,
working every day, to create this astonishing work!
Unfortunately, the ravages of conflict and fire caused much of the
Yongle encyclopedia to be lost. Only 400 volumes are known to exist
today—and the Library’s Chinese Collection is privileged to own some
of them. They are part of the collection’s 50,000 rare Chinese books and
manuscripts published before 1644—the largest such collection outside of
China.
Those who use the Chinese collection at the Library of Congress know its
special secret—that its resources extend far beyond its precious objects.
The scholars and experts who staff the Collection are an integral part of what
it has to offer.
They provide guidance to thousands of students and scholars who visit
the collection, in person and online. They lend their expertise to members of
Congress, the government and the public. And one of the most practical and most
appreciated services they offer is the translation of correspondence,
newspapers, and other documents for members of Congress. As the Asian American
community has grown in the United States, I am told that it is not uncommon for
members of Congress to receive mail from constituents written in Chinese. By
translating these and other documents, the library is creating bridges of
understanding between Chinese and American cultures and helping to foster the
rich diversity that makes our country stronger.
As an American of Chinese ancestry, I view the Library’s Chinese
Collection as a longstanding testament to the good will, generosity and
adventurous spirit of the American people.
The Chinese Emperor Tongzhi, who sent 933 volumes to the Library of
Congress as a gift in 1869, hoped that through mutual
understanding—especially through the arts—the United States and China
would develop closer ties.
From his act of friendship, this great collection has grown into what it
is today.
Thomas Jefferson, the principal founder and supporter of the Library of
Congress, would have approved of the acquisition of the library’s Chinese
collection.
As President, he believed keenly in the power of ideas and it is his
concept of universality that has inspired the Library’s extensive
collections.
As our nation grows and becomes more diverse, it is critical that we
learn to appreciate and understand each other and the diverse backgrounds that
make up our great country. The Chinese Collection can help all Americans
appreciate the achievements of Chinese civilization and the rich traditions
that Chinese-Americans bring to our country.
And to Americans of Chinese ancestry, the Library’s Chinese
Collection will continue to be a source of great pride… a celebration of
the achievements of our ancestors and a source of inspiration for future
generations.
We are the beneficiaries of two great traditions—Asian and
American—and we are fortunate to have resources like this one to help us
cherish the strengths of both.
As the Library moves into the 21st century, I want to commend
the Chinese Collection for using technology to preserve, enhance and expand
access to its precious store of knowledge. That is especially important in
introducing young people to the collection and sharing with them the treasures
it has to offer.
So let me end where I started, by wishing the Chinese Collection of the
Library of Congress a Happy 75th Birthday and many, many more years
of achievement. You are making a tremendous contribution to our country by
creating bridges of understanding and appreciation between two of the
world’s great cultures.
Thank you for inviting me to share this special occasion with you.
# # #
_________________________________________________________________
| 
