Ancient writings go on disc
SCHOLARS of ancient China should have at their fingertips the entire body of traditional texts dating back to the 6th century within three years.
The Institute of Chinese Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong is computerising the texts - which amount to about 24 million characters - in a two-part project.
Phase I of the eight-year project, which began in 1988, was finished in 1991.
It computerised all Chinese literature published up to 220 AD.
Chen Fong-ching, director of the institute, said: ''Phase II, from 220 AD to 589 AD, will come to an end in 1996.'' The institute was publishing a series of concordances compiled directly from the resulting database as well as the database, Dr Chen said.
''We have already published 12 volumes of finished work, and, by 1996, we will finish 65 volumes,'' he said.
The literature would be published on either compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or floppy disks, for use by academics or the public.
It was expected the library would especially benefit scholars of ancient China.
Dr Chen said he estimated the project would involve digitalising about 24 million characters.
It would cost between $6 million and $8 million.
The project has been funded by the University and Polytechnic Grants Commission (UPGC) and the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation of Taiwan.
The institute, which was founded in 1967, has published monographs, compilations, reports, proceedings, and more than 150 different catalogues.
''We try to strike a balance between traditional and contemporary Chinese culture,'' Dr Chen said.
This two-fold interest is evident from the work carried on by the various units within the institute.
The units are the Art Gallery; Thermoluminescence Laboratory; Research Centre for Translation; Centre for Chinese Archaeology and Art; the Chinese Language Research Centre; and the Research Centre for Contemporary Chinese Culture.
The Art Gallery acquires, preserves, restores and exhibits Chinese art and artefacts.
The Thermoluminescence Laboratory dates ceramics for the institute and general public.
The Research Centre for Translation aims to present in English the best of Chinese literature and other writings for Western readers.
It also publishes the twice-yearly Renditions journal.
The Centre for Chinese Archaeology and Art concentrates on archaeology and, since 1987, has carried out several excavations in Hong Kong.
The Chinese Language Research Centre began by concentrating on Chinese paleography but, since 1980, its focus has changed.
It now studies ancient Chinese texts and the problems of education in Chinese in the territory.
It publishes the quarterly Chinese newsletter.
The Research Centre for Contemporary Chinese Culture was set up this year.
It plans to develop research programmes on modern Chinese history, contemporary Chinese thought on religion and philosophy, and comparative studies of modernisation.
The institute also publishes the Journal of Chinese Studies and the 21st Century.
It has only about 60 to 70 people on the staff, of whom half are academics and professionals.
The institute is funded mainly by grants from the university.
However, it also relies on private donations, research grants and contracts, among other sources, for special projects.
