On 27 March 2016, the State Council officially printed and distributed the Circular on Announcing the 5th National Rare Ancient Book Directory and the 5th group of National Key Ancient Books Preservation and Conservation Institutions, approved and issued the 5th National Rare Ancient Book Directory, with 899 ancient books selected, including 754 Chinese ancient books, 131 ancient books in ethnic minorities' languages, 14 ancient books in other languages, and nominated 14 National Key Ancient Books Preservation and Conservation Institutions.
Since January 2014, the Ministry of Culture organized the declaration of the 5th National Rare Ancient Book Directory and National Key Ancient Books Preservation and Conservation Institutions. Each province, autonomous region, municipality directly under the central government, and related departments paid high attention to it and actively took part in the declaration. As of May 2014, there were 7381 ancient books from ancient books preservation and conservation centers in the nationwide and 22 ancient books preservation and conservation collection institutions which took part in declaration.
The review of the 5th National Rare Ancient Book Directory and the 5th group of National Key Ancient Books Preservation and Conservation Institutions started in May 2014. After several steps in the past two years, including preliminary collation, expert review, onsite inspection, special review of the Inter-ministerial Joint Meeting of China Ancient Books Protection, and result publicity in the website of the Ministry of Culture, the name list of National Rare Ancient Book Directory and National Key Ancient Books Preservation and Conservation Institutions is determined. The selected ancient books were valuable ancient books (Level 1 and Level 2) with important history, ideology and culture value, including 13,457 pieces of oracle bones inscriptions, 13 titles of bamboo and silk documents, 28 titles of Dunhuang manuscripts from the Northern and Southern Dynasties to the Five Dynasties Period, 60 titles of rare books and rubbings in Song and Yuan Dynasties, 652 titles of rare books, rubbings, maps in Ming and Qing Dynasties, 131 ancient books in 10 ethnic minorities' languages, such as Tibetan, Tangut, Mongolian, Manchu, and so on, 14 titles of ancient books in foreign languages, such as Latin, Italian, English, and so on.
The features of the 5th National Rare Ancient Book Directory are as follows: first, declaration scope is enlarged. For example, Art Museum of the Chinese University of Hong Kong declared 8 valuable rubbings in Song and Yuan Dynasties, which is the first time for Hong Kong to declare National Rare Ancient Book Directory. Before, ancient books from Macao had been included; second, there are many valuable Chinese ancient books, such as the Complete Library of the Four Branches of Literature (Nan San Ge Edition), totaling 26 ancient books; third, along with the advancement of national ancient books general survey and registration, the number of ancient books in ethnic minorities' languages is increasing. More than 400 ancient books from about 100 ancient books preservation and conservation collection institutions in Tibet Autonomous Region took part in declaration, including public libraries and temples, which becomes a highlight of the 5th National Rare Ancient Book Directory.
To preserve Chinese ancient books is of great significance for promoting culture inheritance, uniting national emotions, carrying forward national spirit, and maintaining national unity and social stability. Since January 2007, General Office of the State Council issued the Suggestion on Strengthening Ancient Books Preservation and Conservation, the State Council had issued 4 groups of National Rare Ancient Book Directory and National Key Ancient Books Preservation and Conservation Institutions from 2007 to 2015, with 11,375 ancient books selected, and had nominated 166 National Key Ancient Books Preservation and Conservation Institutions, which drove 19 provinces to organize the declaration and review of provincial Valuable Ancient Books Directory, promoted the establishment of ancient books preservation system, and improved ancient books collection environment of nominated institutions.
In order to publicize and promote the 5th National Rare Ancient Book Directory and the 5th group of National Key Ancient Books Preservation and Conservation Institutions, the National Library of China will hold National Rare Ancient Books Exhibition from June to August 2016, which mainly displays valuable ancient books included by National Rare Ancient Book Directory, publicizes ancient books knowledge, enhances public's awareness of ancient books preservation, and carries forward Chinese excellent traditional culture.