Marvelous aren’t they the bronze doors of the First Historical Archives of China’s new building? They’re adorned with intricate triangular patterns. Think of them as portals to the past.
This magnificent structure is more than just a building. It is the new home of the First Historical Archives of China a central-level national archive. This institution holds an unparalleled collection of documents. These documents chronicle the Ming and Qing dynasties and even earlier eras. The sheer scale of its holdings is breathtaking. It houses nearly 10 million historical documents.
Imagine the weight of history within these walls. Each document whispers tales of emperors and empresses of rebellions and reforms. They recount the daily lives of ordinary people. The collection boasts imperial edicts. It includes ministerial memos and countless other records. These records cover politics economics warfare and more. About 80% of these documents are written in Chinese. The rest are in Manchu Mongolian or other minority languages. Some are even in foreign languages like English French and Japanese. The archives even contain the earliest existing document. This is from 1371. The most recent document dates to 1943. That is a span of over 570 years.
The new building itself is a testament to architectural innovation. It cleverly balances the need for preservation with public access. The building has a total floor area of almost 100000 square meters. It includes a large underground section and 10 floors above ground. The building has three main exhibition halls. Visitors can delve into the Ming and Qing dynasties’ history through these exhibitions. One exhibit features maps. These are extraordinary examples of cartography from centuries past. There’s the Da Ming Hunyi Tu. This is the largest and oldest surviving world map from China. The map shows the known world at the time. It stretches from Japan and Korea to Europe and Africa. This map alone boasts over 5000 place names. A video plays on a large screen alongside the map. This video allows visitors to see the details up close.
Another exhibit showcases stunning artifacts. These are from the imperial court of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Gold boxes and dragon chests hold centuries of secrets. These containers were used to store crucial documents and sacred texts.
The First Historical Archives of China isn’t merely a repository of the past. It’s a living archive. The new building is open to the public. It offers a captivating journey through China’s rich history. It’s a testament to the nation’s commitment to preserving its cultural heritage. The new archive utilizes digital technology. It provides online access to over 44 of its collections. This makes its treasures accessible to everyone. This visit to the First Historical Archives of China’s new building should be the highlight of your trip to Beijing. You won’t be disappointed.