Highlights on the workshop, "Conservation of Chinese Scrolls, Manuscripts and Rare books"

Highlights on the workshop, "Conservation of Chinese Scrolls, Manuscripts and Rare books"

 

The Conservation Office was honoured to invite Ms. Hu Yuqing (胡玉清女士), an expert on conservation of ancient manuscripts, rare books and Dunhuang scrolls working at the National Library of China, to conduct a week-long workshop in Hong Kong for us in early January 2017. Ms. Hu is a highly acclaimed master on her specialities in China. She has over forty years of work experience in conservation and has been appointed as one of the inheritors by the China National Centre for Conservation and Preservation of Ancient Books (國家級古籍修復技藝傳習中心) to pass on knowledge and skills to the next generations.

 

The workshop combined theoretical and practical sessions. Through demonstration, one-on-one practical advice and instruction, it had inspired the trainees with curiosity, conversation, and exploration. In-depth discussions on some selected conservation topics, such as features of traditional formats of rare books, current treatment standard, application and development of conservation practice in mainland China were covered. The workshop had not only strengthened our ties with the conservation master, but also built up the cultural links between the master and our emerging conservators.

 

In addition to the workshop, Ms. Hu had kindly delivered a 2-hour lecture, sharing her work experience and valuable conservation knowledge in the treatment of manuscripts from Dunhuang and Chinese ancient books. Over 80 participants including conservators, curators and librarians had attended the lecture.