[Explanation] Books are the ladder of human progress, and books are an important carrier for humans to acquire knowledge. In the centuries-old cultural heritage, some ancient books have been damaged to varying degrees due to worm-eaten, aging paper, etc. Therefore, in the process of protecting ancient books, ancient book restorers play a vital role. On the occasion of World Book Day on April 23, the reporter visited the only state-level ancient book restoration workshop in Chongqing, and listened to Xu Tong, a "book doctor", about the story of ancient book restoration.
In the northwest corner of the Chongqing Library, an office that does not look special, but few people bother. This is the ancient book restoration center in the museum, and it is also the only national ancient book restoration workshop in Chongqing. The ten-meter long vermilion workbench is stacked with worn paper and debris. Xu Tong, 52, was sitting in the middle of the large square table. While fiddled with the yellowed tablet on the chopping board, she dipped the paste with a brush and made up for the moth holes on the pages. Under Xu Tong's skillful work, the ancient book of "sickness" is reborn.
[Same period] (Xu Tong, a restorer of ancient books)
Doesn't it mean that our ancient books are all repaired by "book doctors", or another kind of healing and saving lives. Because the ancient books have been preserved for decades, they have been damaged by the natural environment, such as worms, molds, and floods. However, if we want to save this part of the data, we need to help it repair it intact, repair it and let it continue to be inherited and preserved.
[Commentary] Xu Tong worked in the Chongqing Library in 1986. She worked as a editor and editor, and she also spent time in the special document center. In 2007, when I heard that there were places to study the protection of ancient books in Beijing, Xu Tong took the initiative to apply, and has since formed an indissoluble bond with the restoration of ancient books. Six months of training benefited Xu Tong. After returning to Chongqing, she immediately set up an ancient book restoration center.
In the industry, books published before 1912 are called ancient books. Restoration of ancient books includes not only the restoration of books, but also the restoration of calligraphy and paintings and tablet inscriptions. Following the learning experience of Chinese ancient book restoration expert Zhao Jiafu, Xu Tong is not only able to restore ancient books, but also repairs calligraphy, paintings, tablets and rubbings.
[Same period] (Xu Tong, a restorer of ancient books)
Today, the most versatile Zhao Jiafu is our master. He taught us, for example, what are the characteristics of our Chongqing Ancient Books Restoration Center. That is to say, not only do we have to repair ancient books, we also have to engrave monuments, pass on extensions, mount framed inscriptions, repair inscriptions, and also calligraphy and painting to repair these. Relatively speaking, we have relatively complete skills, and now we are relatively complete in the whole country.
[Explanation] Now, under the leadership of Xu Tong, the Chongqing Ancient Books Restoration Center has expanded from a team of 2 people at the beginning of its establishment to a team of 8 people, and has introduced modern equipment. In their hands, not only is the ancient book sleeping, but also the "resurrection" of the memory of civilization in the residual volume.
[Same period] (Xu Yanbo, ancient book restorer)
The things left by the ancients, through our actual operation, and then let it look new and preserved. From generation to generation, I think it makes a lot of sense.
Reporter Xiao Jiangchuan Chongqing reports
Editor in charge: [Wang Kai]