[Explanation] Recently, the nearly 700-year-old block-printed version of "Yonglei Qianfang" was restored in Nanjing Library.
[Explanation] In front of the camera, the busy "post-90s" guy named Ding Feng came to Nanjing Library to work after graduating from university.
[Concurrent] Ding Feng, restorer of ancient books in Nanjing Library
After the damaged ancient books come to us, first of all you need to take pictures, electronically archive, register the damage of the ancient books, formulate our restoration plan, and (after) carry out preliminary preparations, such as acid testing, paper distribution, etc. For some mildew removal, decontamination and other work, we will repair it after the preliminary preparation work is completed.
[Explanation] In the face of many rare ancient books, Ding Feng and his friends are very serious, learning from the seniors how to repair and organize ancient books.
[Concurrent] Ding Feng, restorer of ancient books in Nanjing Library
Nanjing Library has a collection of about 1.6 million ancient books. When our warehouse staff finds damaged ancient books when picking up books or patrolling the library, they will bring them up and hand them over to our (Ancient Books) Restoration Center for repair.
[Explanation] In 2019, Ding Feng participated in the restoration of a nearly 700-year-old national treasure-level ancient book "Yonglei Qianfang".
This set of comprehensive medical books of the Yuan Dynasty has been selected into the National Precious Ancient Books List of China. The two volumes in the Nanjing Library are derived from the earliest extant Yuan Dynasty engraved editions, which are rarely handed down.
[Concurrent] Ding Feng, restorer of ancient books in Nanjing Library
This "Yonglei Qianfang" is a block-printed edition of the Yuan Dynasty. It is a national-level precious ancient book, and it is difficult to restore. It has a trace of restoration in the Qing Dynasty, and the whole book is in a broken state.
The principle of repairing is to make up the middle first, then the two sides, first fill up the big and then make up the small, because when we repair ancient books, we use starch paste, first fix the middle, flatten it, and then fill in the two sides; .
Each page of this book has two pages of supporting pages, and there are traces of the previous column and supplementary characters on the supporting pages. (the instructor) suggested that I dig the position of the column supplementary words on the supporting paper and dig it out as a whole. Down, make up (repair) on the original page.
[Explanation] In the selection of paper, it is also quite particular.
[Concurrent] Ding Feng, restorer of ancient books in Nanjing Library
This (paper) color is not right, this color is faded.
You can probably tell its composition by listening to the sound. This bamboo material is too much.
[Explanation] Ding Feng told reporters that it is very difficult to repair rare ancient books, and repairing a page of paper is like performing a minimally invasive surgery.
[Concurrent] Ding Feng, restorer of ancient books in Nanjing Library
Because it is a medical book, it records some prescriptions and some treatments.
For us ancient book restorers, not only do we keep the ancient book version intact, but we also hope to keep the text and some historical value in our hands as much as possible.
Reporter Ge Yong reports from Nanjing, Jiangsu
Responsible editor: [Li Ji]