South African university receives artifacts from Chinese counterpart

South Africa's University of Johannesburg has received a major Chinese art archive donation from Zhejiang University.

The University of Johannesburg is now one of only four universities worldwide, and the only one in Africa, to serve as a repository for the comprehensive collection of ancient Chinese paintings. The collection comprises 232 volumes, containing 12,405 reproductions of ancient Chinese paintings sourced from 263 museums and cultural institutions worldwide.

Letlhokwa Mpedi, vice-chancellor and principal of the University of Johannesburg, said the institution is proud to have been selected as a recipient of the donation. He noted that the achievement will strengthen ties between the University of Johannesburg, Zhejiang University, and broader China-South Africa relations.

"This means scholars from all over Africa who want to consult this cultural resource will have to come to the University of Johannesburg. We see this opening new areas of research for the university and for African scholars," Mpedi said.

"This is important historical information in the area of art, and also connecting with Chinese scholars. I see this inspiring African researchers to also research our own art history, and having collections like this going back one thousand years. It will serve as a lasting academic resource that supports teaching, inspires new research, and deepens cross-cultural understanding for generations to come," said Mpedi.

Chinese and African leaders have designated 2026 as the Year of the China-Africa People-to-People Exchanges. Mpedi said the donation is timely, as it will help promote dialogue, interaction, knowledge exchange, and cultural understanding between the two sides.

David Monyae, director of the Centre for Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg, echoed Mpedi's sentiments. He said the archive is particularly significant in the context of the people-to-people exchanges and the Global Civilization Initiative.

"There's nothing better than having the archival material, books digitally, that speak about centuries of Chinese painting," he said.

"Chinese civilization will be open to our students, civil society, and scholars in the field. It will also give us an opportunity and lessons to learn how our own African philosophy, civilization, paintings, can speak to the Chinese painting. This is great news for the university, the city, the country, and the continent."

Monyae added that he hopes to see more academic exchanges and collaboration involving African scholars, researchers, and students.

The archive spans more than a millennium of Chinese civilization and is widely regarded as the most extensive published collection of ancient Chinese paintings.