The Confucius Institute talks on China - The first Chinese books in London: the collection of Sir Hans Sloane
| Dates: | 25 April 2012 |
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| Times: | 13:00 - 14:00 |
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| What is it: | Lecture |
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| Organiser: | Manchester Museum |
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| How much: | Book on 0161 275 2648, free, adults |
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1-2pm. China is the most populous country in the world with a vast and diverse cultural landscape and a history that contains the roots of modern civilisation. This series of talks features speakers with specialist knowledge of China who cover diverse topics from literature to politics, art, recreation and economics with the aim of demystifying contemporary China for a broad audience.
This month's talk is by Dr Frances Wood, Curator of Chinese Collections, The British Library.
The collections of Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753), physician to Queen Anne and the man who introduced chocolate to a grateful British public, were used to found the British Museum. He collected everything from natural history specimens (stuffed alligators from his time in Jamaica) to fine editions of the Bible and his printed book collection included a fine range of Chinese books from the late Ming and early Qing periods. Many collectors of the time had single Chinese volumes as 'specimens' but Sloane's recently rediscovered Chinese collection ran from Buddhism and Confucianism through geography to literature and painting manuals, most collected for him in China by members of the East India Company who did not know a word of the language.
Price: Book on 0161 275 2648, free, adults
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Manchester Museum
Oxford Road
Manchester
Phone: 0161-2752648
Email: museum@manchester.ac.uk
