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Category: Asian Division

A Japanese-style hanging paper lantern with a human-looking face on it.

Ghost Stories from the Asian Reading Room

Posted by: Cameron Penwell

(The following is a collaborative post with contributions from Elli Kim, Korean Reference Librarian; Joshua Kueh, Southeast Asian Reference Librarian; Cameron Penwell, Japanese Reference Librarian; and Ryan Wolfson-Ford, Southeast Asian Reference Librarian) With Halloween now upon us, we thought it would be interesting to learn more about ghosts, ghouls, and things that go bump in …

A wooden ship with sails and a steam-powered paddle wheel.

Now Online: Pacific Encounters in Nineteenth-Century Japan

Posted by: Cameron Penwell

(The following post is by Cameron Penwell, Japanese Reference Specialist, Asian Division.) On March 31, 1854, the signing of the US-Japan Treaty of Peace and Amity marked the beginning of official relations between the United States and Japan. In connection with the 170th anniversary of this historical event, the Library of Congress has launched a …

A yellow book cover with Chinese writing in the upper left corner.

Yongle Encyclopedia Volumes Fully Digitized

Posted by: Cameron Penwell

The Yongle Encyclopedia (Yongle dadian), completed in 1408, was premodern China's, and perhaps the world's, largest reference work. The Library of Congress holds 41 unique volumes, which have been fully digitized and made available online. This post traces the compilation, transmission, near loss, and contemporary preservation of this momentous work. We invite book-lovers to enjoy in high resolution its exquisite calligraphy and illustrations.