Textbook exhibition traces China's educational evolution

Its physical textbook exhibition uses representative holdings to trace the development of modern textbooks in China — from ancient primers such as Three Character Classic, Hundred Family Surnames and Thousand Character Classic, to modern textbooks in the late Qing Dynasty and early Chinese-authored textbooks, and then to textbooks from the republican era.

The exhibition also includes textbooks compiled during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and those produced throughout the War of Liberation (1946-49), as well as textbooks published after the founding of New China.

Exhibits also include textbooks printed on coarse Malan paper produced in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia border region in northwestern China — the cradle of New China.

BNU, a century-old teacher-training university centered on teacher education and basic education, has long valued textbook collection. The history of textbooks is closely tied to the nation's history, Hu said.

Textbook research is not only about education and teaching but is also significant for historical and multidisciplinary research, she said.

Asked whether textbooks remain important in the AI era, Hu said AI cannot easily access ancient textbooks. Knowledge acquisition depends on one's foundation, and such reading materials remain important.

"Some say textbooks shape a person," Hu said. "What kind of person you become is closely related to what textbooks you use."

The library digitized the textbooks because the paper copies are old and unsuitable for frequent use, while their content is precious. The aim is to make these outstanding materials from the past more accessible to researchers, students and textbook enthusiasts.

For teacher-training students, Hu said the exhibition helps them understand the history and stories behind textbooks, such as those printed on Malan paper in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia border region.

"When they learn this, they will feel emotionally connected to history and textbooks, and it will inspire further research and influence their thoughts," she said.