In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, selected reproductions from the Ten Bamboo Studio Collection of Calligraphy and Pictures by Hu Zhengyan (1584-1674) will be displayed during May 2018 on the 8th floor of the Harold Washington Library Center.
These reproductions were presented to the Chicago Public Library as a gift from the librarians of the Capital Library of China during their visit to the Harold Washington Library Center in June of 2017.
The Ten Bamboo Studio Collection is the earliest Chinese book printed by the technique of polychrome xylography known as douban, invented and perfected by Hu Zhengyan. It is a meticulous print process which involves the use of multiple printing blocks applied with different colored inks to paper, reproducing the effect of a watercolor painting. The beautiful shades of color in this work have led to its reputation as "the most beautiful set of prints ever made." The reproductions on display are from the only existing complete copy in the original binding of the first edition, which is held at Cambridge University Library. (View a digitized version of this copy.)
