Research On Zhang Haipeng’s Engraved Books

Zhang Haipeng (1755-1816), a book engraver lived in Qing dynastyand came from Zhaowen (now in Chang Shu, Jiang Su province). Hecame from a family with long history of collecting books, and his threerepresentative book collection studies are: Zhao Kuang Ge, Chuang WangLou and Jie Yue Shan Fang. He failed in the examination of selectinggovernment officers, since then he made up his mind devoting himself inthe business of engraving books. His idea ‘Reading is better thancollecting books, furthermore, reading in less than engraving books. Hethought reading benefit one own, while engraving books benefits others’is well accepted by futurity. He devoted his whole life in engraving books,his major representative works are parts of these works: Tai Ping Yu Lan,Xue Jin Tao Yuan, Jie Yue Shan Fang Hui Chao, Mo Hai Jin Hu. Hishope of engraving books is to inherit the spirit of ancestors and at thesame time nurturing the following generations.This thesis is the deep analysis of the major idea, characteristics andinfluences of Zhang Hai peng’s engraved books based on the researchesexisted. For his center thought, there are major two parts: the origin of histhought and the purpose his engraved books, trying to reflect the processof how his idea came into being. First, the key reason should belong tohis family education and long history of book collection. And another famous personal engraver of book lived between Ming dynasty and Qingdynasty, Mao Jingji who came from the same town with Zhang Haipenghad great influence on him. Last but not least, is his personal knowledgeand understanding, he believed that, it is the duty of a learned man toinherit knowledge of ancestors through books. This is the inner factor ofhis purpose of engraving books. Compare the purpose of Zhang Haipengand other book engraver, the most obvious difference is his enlightenmentand advancement.The emphasis of this thesis is the analyzing of his characteristics.Research methodology adopted here in this thesis is induction methods.Through collecting and analyzing the books he had engraved, trying tofigure out his characteristic of engraving based on the historical data anddocument. On the basis of historical data and document, thecharacteristics been concluded can found its theoretical foundations andfactual proofs. The characteristic of his engraved books is not beenconcluded on one or two books of his, but based on his life long activitiesof engraving books. So the innovative point of this thesis is that theperspective of analyzing, which is macroscopically and open grounded.Zhang Haipeng is a typical representative of book collectors fromthe south of lower reaches of the Yangtze River who were engaging inengraving books. Completely different from other collectors who werealso engraving books, Zhang Hai peng treated engraving book as his life long carrier. And the cultural phenomenon of book collectors engaging inbook engraving should also been paid attention on, because that bookcollectors engaging in book engraving are totally different from privateengravers and shop owners of engraved books. We should put thisphenomenon into a bigger background consisted of economical, political,cultural and social layers. Under this background, the image of ZhangHaipeng—a book engraver could be demonstrated all-sided.