Confucianism, which has a history of more than 2,500 years in China, is the backbone of ancient Chinese culture. But unlike Buddhism and Taoism, there has never been a systematic collection of Confucianist sutras.

This is all set to change.

The Sichuan University Press is now publishing "Ru Zang (Confucianist Scriptures)," a large collection of Confucianist classics.

The book series should include 5,000 ancient books in 5,000 volumes. The first batch of 50 volumes hit the market in early August, while the remainder will come out in the next 10 years.

The series is compiled by the Institute of Classical Literature Studies, which is affiliated to Sichuan University.

According to Shu Dagang, president of the institute, the compilation began in 1997, and has won much support from relevant organizations. Sichuan University has allocated 1.5 million yuan (US$185,000) to the project and the China Confucian Fund has donated 3 million yuan (US$370,000).

"We have done a great deal of sorting out of ancient books and we are very experienced in this field. But the project, a huge task, requires tremendous efforts that have gone beyond everybody's expectations," says Shu.

The preliminary stage of cataloguing was relatively easy. For Shu and his colleagues, the real challenge was to collect the ancient books, which are scattered across the country. Over the past eight years, they have contacted almost every major library and university in China.

Most places were willing to lend the books in their store and give the permission to photocopy, but some were reluctant. These persuasion efforts were particularly difficult.

Shu says he is happy efforts have paid off, as scholars and experts in the field have spoken highly of the book series.

Professor Zhang Liwen, from Renmin University of China in Beijing, says: "It is never too much, however much we praise the grave significance of 'Ru Zang'. Confucianism is the root of the Chinese culture. Only when there are deep roots will there be thick foliage."

Zhang said his university is now sorting out the Confucianist classics in other countries that have been influenced by Chinese culture, for example Japan, South Korea and Viet Nam.

(China Daily August 18, 2005)