History drawn with a brush

More than 12 000 artworks in 67 volumes in one place. The largest and most complete collection of ancient Chinese paintings in the world is now part of the University of Pécs Art Library. The result of 18 years of work by Zhejiang University and the Ziejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Bureau, this series of publications offers an unparalleled insight into the visual culture of ancient China.

"We live in a material world,

but there are things that are worthless in forints, dollars, euros. This collection is like that."

- said Dr. Attila Miseta, Rector of the PTE at the ceremonial handover. He added: "This is a gift in trust. The bridge that connects the past with the present is important in academia and culture."

The collection is a joint project between Zhejiang University and the Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Bureau, which started in 2005 and ended in 2023. The aim of the initiative is clear: to bridge the gap between past and present, East and West, while preserving what has shaped Chinese visual culture over the centuries. The monumental collection -

one of the largest Chinese painting reproduction collections in the world -

was donated to the PTE by the Chinese side at the end of the project, demonstrating the depth of cultural cooperation and trust between the two countries.

The series, comprising 67 volumes and 248 books, includes more than 12,000 works of art on paper, silk - including brocade and damask - canvas and other traditional materials.

The paintings are drawn from the collections of 263 national and international museums and cultural institutions, concentrating not only China's artistic heritage but also the collective cultural memory of humanity.

Thanks to state-of-the-art imaging and digital processing technologies, the collection reproduces the detail and atmosphere of the original works with extraordinary accuracy. The digitisation process has preserved every detail of the paintings, creating authentic and complete reproductions, while solving the problem of collecting and displaying scattered masterpieces.

Dr. István Tarrósy, Head of the International Centre of PTE and Professor of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, emphasized the award in his speech:

"It is of world historical significance that a country has collected its own painting heritage in such a comprehensive way and presented it to the world.

It is not only a source of research material, but an unparalleled opportunity for cultural dialogue."

At the event, Sheng Mingao, a former PTE student and classical singer, performed the Chinese folk song “Guan Jü (关雎)”, also known as “The Bird of the Fishing Net”, which evoked the depths and richness of Chinese culture. This song is one of the most famous pieces in the “Shi Jing” (Book of Songs), which dates from the 11th to the 7th century BC and is a mainstay of ancient Chinese literature and the Confucian tradition.

“Art has an eternal existence, and this collection is a living example of that”, emphasized Dr. Péter Lengyel, Dean of the Faculty of Music and Visual Arts.

"From an educational point of view, it is also a huge opportunity. Our students can now hold, study and interpret these works,

that were previously only available on the walls of distant museums."

The event was attended by Sun Jie, Embassy Counsellor, representing the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Hungary, and Dr. József Betlehem, Vice-Rector for Strategy and Relations of the University of Pécs.

The collection is a treasure trove not only for researchers, art historians and students, but for all those who believe that art is a universal language and that it is this language that holds the key to future international dialogue.

The event was made possible thanks to the International Seasons series of intercultural events organised by the International Centre. For similar events, visit their Facebook or Instagram pages.

Written by Mercédesz Kovács-Csincsák