Vast collections of ancient books embodying Chinese civilization are facing growing threats as time takes its toll, including fading ink, embrittlement and even irreversible damage. The emergence of digital technology has opened up new avenues for the preservation and transmission of these invaluable cultural treasures.

The Digital Resource Database of Historical Documents of Jiangxi Province, established by the Jiangxi Provincial Library, enables readers to conveniently access ancient books through features such as intelligent search and conversion between traditional and simplified Chinese characters. Precious works, including Four Works of Song Yingxing, have been digitally repatriated through the platform, bringing them back into public view.

In October 2025, the ancient books platform Shidianguji brought online high-definition images and meticulously proofread texts of more than 400 existing volumes of the Yongle Encyclopedia. By using 3D technology to restore the original appearance of the volumes and offering functions such as full-text search and intelligent punctuation, the platform has made this monumental work readily accessible to the public.

The Yongle Encyclopedia is available for reading on the Shidianguji app.

[Photo via Shanghai Morning Post]

The Tianyi Ge Museum has also recently released 930 newly digitized ancient texts, including a large number of rare local gazetteers and imperial examination records from the Ming Dynasty. To date, its platform has published digital images of more than 5,500 ancient works, with most of its key collections now openly accessible to the public.

Staff at the Tianyi Ge Museum are scanning ancient texts.

[Photo via The Paper]

In terms of restoration and conservation, institutions such as the Tianjin Library are combining modern technology with traditional craftsmanship. Scientific methods, including fibre analysis and pH testing, are used to "diagnose" the condition of ancient books and establish detailed restoration records, improving both efficiency and sustainability. The library has so far digitized nearly 100,000 ancient volumes, about half of which are open to the public.

Wang Hongjie, an ancient book restorer, works on restoring an ancient text.

[Photo via Xinhua News Agency]

The integration of technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data is driving the digital preservation of ancient books beyond simple image display toward deeper analysis and intelligent applications. Once confined by time, the written characters of the past are now crossing millennia through digital means, gaining renewed vitality through repeated reading and wider dissemination. 

(Compiled from Xinhua News Agency, China Culture Daily, Shanghai Morning Post and other sources)