A large proportion of the remains of the most gigantic compilation work in Chinese history, Yongle Dadian, which literally means "The Encyclopedia of Yongle Emperor's Reign in Ming Dynasty", has been restored to its original look.
Chinese paleographic experts have spent decades of efforts to repair the classic, part of it worn away despite careful preservation over more than five centuries. Now looking as beautiful as the original, the Encyclopedia enables scholars at home and abroad to take an insight into the essence of the nation's ancient culture.
It took 4 years for 3,000 scholars to finish the compilation of the Encyclopedia in Yongle Emperor's reign. Of the enormous work, composed of nearly 23,000 volumes in 11,095 books when accomplished, only 400 books now remain.
More than half of them are in China's National Library.
(CCTV.com July 18, 2003)
