Gu Tinglong exhibition a tribute to a library legend
To honor the 120th birthday of Gu Tinglong, a former director of the Shanghai Library, a manuscript and document exhibition has opened to the public at the Shanghai Library's East Branch. The exhibition commemorates Gu's lifelong dedication to Chinese cultural preservation and historical scholarship.
Gu is celebrated as one of China's most influential figures in the library sciences, classical bibliography, and calligraphy. His contributions have left an indelible mark on the preservation of China's classical culture, exemplifying an unyielding spirit of service to tradition and scholarship, according to Shanghai Library.
Poster of the exhibition
A collection of Gu Tinglong's personal items at the exhibition.
The exhibition – "For Rememberance and Inheritance: Memorial Exhibition of Mr. Gu Tinglong's 120th Anniversary of Birth" – displays Gu's manuscripts, letters, photos, publications and personal items. The over 1,600 items on display were donated by Gu's family, including rare ancient books, handwritten manuscripts and personal correspondence. Among the highlights is a handwritten copy of "The Tenth Volume of the Selected Poems of the Yuan Dynasty," a collection of poems Gu donated to the Shanghai Library in the 1980s.
A handwritten copy of "The Tenth Volume of the Selected Poems of the Yuan Dynasty," which Gu donated to the Shanghai Library in the 1980s.
The exhibition also has items that reveal Gu's contributions to ancient document restoration, personal correspondence with scholars, and records of his instrumental role in advancing library services in Shanghai.
The exhibition design is a highlight, allowing visitors to experience Gu's world firsthand. Visitors can step back in time in the furniture exhibition area, with its authentic recreation of Gu's study, with his original chairs and bookshelves. Archival footage on old televisions also gives visitors a sense of being in his presence.
The exhibition area features furniture from Gu's study to recreate his workspace.
A chair included in the recreation of Gu's study.
Original furniture recreates Gu's 1993 residence on Huaihai Road M.
The calligraphy exhibition area offers reproductions of Gu's handwriting and the character sheets he created for library staff, alongside a photo of him practicing calligraphy. Visitors can study and even try their hand at imitating his style.
The video exhibition area displays photos of Gu against a backdrop of historical photos, and footage showing him discussing document preservation.
The bookshelf area of the exhibition allows visitors to browse Gu's major works, as well as books he edited and annotated.
If you go
Venue: 4/F, the manuscript pavilion, Shanghai Library's East Branch
Address: 300 Hehuan Rd 合欢路300号
