Ancient 'mini library' unearthed

The two institutions committed decades to demystifying the characters and texts found on bamboo slips and silk manuscripts excavated from the Mawangdui tombs.

In June 2014, the first collection of Mawangdui bamboo slips and silk manuscripts was published. Compiled by the center and Hunan Museum, the seven-book collection reveals the complete raw materials of bamboo and silk manuscripts for the first time, offering a most comprehensive and accurate interpretation.

"There is no end in sight for the sorting and interpreting of the Mawangdui silk manuscripts. Although we have made many annotations, there is still much work unfinished. New silk pieces were published and a large number of scattered pieces have not been bound yet," says paleographer Qiu Xigui, chief editor of both collections and the leading professor at the center.