Research Guides: Chinese Studies: Home

About the China Collection

The China Collection of the UHM Library is a research-level collection consisting of materials about China in Chinese, western languages (mostly English), Japanese, Korean, Russian and other Asian languages. In addition to materials physically housed in the UHM Library, the Library has permanent access to over 3,000 Chinese e-books and over 21, 000 Chinese e-journals.

The China Collection is particularly strong in history, Chinese language and literature (especially classical texts and traditional drama and fiction), Chinese philosophy and religion, and Chinese arts (especially Chinese architecture and paintings). To support teaching, learning, and research related to China at UHM, the collection has a growing number of resources on social-economic and political conditions of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.

Soft Opening of the Sun Yat-sen and Soong Ching Ling Research Room

In conjunction with the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Hawaii Foundation, the Library takes great pleasure in announcing the opening of the Sun Yat-sen Soong Ching Ling Research Room on the fourth floor (Asia Collection) of Hamilton Library. The soft opening of the research room was held in HL 401, November 12, 2019 in celebration of Dr. Sun’s 153rd birthday.

A reception for donors, scholars, UH Foundation officers (Tim Dolan and SaraLyn Smith) and friends of Sun's family got together to celebrate the naming of the Research Room and Alcove in the Asia collection. iUL Dr. Ghosh delivered opening remarks, UH President Dr. David Lassner and Chairman of Sun Yat-sen Hawaii Foundation, Mr. Warren Luke, delivered speeches on Sun's connection to Hawaii — having first visited in 1879 — and his commitment to the Chinese revolution. Guests toured the Research Room, and visited the new exhibit on Sun Yat-sen in the Asia Collection. Mr. Luke noted that the opening of the Research Room is the first step in the community’s continuing involvement with the library. Photos of the event by Ms. Terri Alvaro can be viewed here.

The purpose of the Research Room and its related funds is to provide support for the mission of the University of Hawaii at Manoa Hamilton Library Asia Collection, with preference to use the funds in support of the Sun Yat-sen and Soong Ching Ling Research Room, and related scholarly activity. It took about four years of dedicated effort and collaboration among donors, the UH Foundation and the Library.

Databases for UHM users

CHANT (CHinese ANcient Text) Database 漢達文庫

CHANT is a comprehensive online database of ancient Chinese texts developed by the D. C. Lau Research Centre for Chinese Ancient Texts, Chinese University of Hong Kong. The University of Hawaii at Manoa Library subscribes to three CHANT databases: six dynasties (六朝) transmitted texts, encyclopedia (leishu 類書, from the Wei-Jin period down to the Qing dynasty) and lexicon (詞彙, covering the most frequently used words and phrases found in transmitted ancient Chinese texts).

Chinamaxx Digital Libraries 超星数字图书馆

Contains more than 700 full-text Chinese e-books. Can be viewed with either the proprietary SSReader or IE browser (with Simplified Chinese Language Support package installed).

China Academic Journals (CAJ) 中国期刊全文数据库

Subscription includes 6 series: Literature/History/Philosophy ; Politics/Military Affairs/Law; Economy & Management; Education/Social Sciences; Medicine/Hygiene; Century Journals Project. Please use simplified Chinese to search articles published in China. More about CAJ

Gu Jin Tu Shu Ji Cheng 古今圖書集成

Contains the most important classics of the ancient China through the Qing dynasty. It is divided into six main categories, 32 sections, and 6,117 sub-sections, and each sub-section contains 10 parts. Topics of interest include astronomy, geography, history, philosophy, literature, politics, economy, art, education, agriculture, medicine, etc.

Late Qing Dynasty Full-text Database (1833~1911) and Chinese Periodical Full-text Database (1911-1949) 晚清民国全文期刊库（1833-1949）

Based on Shanghai Library's rich collection of the modern periodical resources, the Late Qing Dynasty Full-text Database (1833-1911) and Chinese Periodical Full-text Database (1911-1949) covers around 10,000,000 pieces of articles in nearly 20,000 titles of periodicals published between 1833 and 1949 in China.

NOTE: Only one user allowed at a time. If you cannot login, please try again later.

People's Daily: 1946-present 人民日报

This database brings you the latest news dispatches of policy information and resolutions of the Chinese Government and major domestic news and international news releases from China.

ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Chinese Newspapers Collection, 1832-1953

This historical newspaper provides genealogists, researchers and scholars with online, easily-searchable first-hand accounts and unparalleled coverage of the politics, society and events of the time.

Scripta Sinica Database 漢藉電子文獻資料庫

Scripta Sinica Database is a compilation of more than 500 titles and 350,000,000 characters of materials pertaining to the traditional Chinese classics, especially those related to Chinese history, including "Veritable Records of the Ming Dynasty" (Ming shi lu) and "Veritable Records of the Qing Dynasty" (Qing shi lu). The database is developed by the Institute of History and Philology, Academia Sinica, Taiwan, Republic of China.

Sixth National Population Census of China (NPCC) Database

Collects all data of 2010 Chinese population census that published by China Statistics Press. The census includes a complete population data of the whole country, 31 provinces and centrally administered municipalities. It also includes 2872 units at county level. The contents are categorizes by gender, age, nationality, permanent residence registration, education level, industry, occupation, social security, marriage, fertility, death, housing, migration and etc.

Zhong yang ri bao [中央日报] = Central Daily News

Contains issues of Central Daily News in traditional Chinese from February 1,1928 (its launching date) to April 23, 1949.

Other Resources by Subjects

Special Digital Collections

Lian Huan Hua 连环画 Collection

The Library has collected more than 150 titles of "lian huan hua" (连环画, graphic novel）that were published mostly during the Cultural Revolution, particularly between 1971-1976, when the publication of lian huan hua was rare and difficult at that time.

The covers of books in the Collection have been digitalized and available at: http://digicoll.manoa.hawaii.edu/storybook/

Shackford Collection of Photographs of China

Contains 304 photographstaken during the late 1920s and early 1930s by John B. Shackford during his travels and tenure as an English teacher in southern China. All photos in this collection have been digitized and available freely online. The titles of the photos are taken from Shackford's original hand-written notes identifying the pictures. However, in some cases, the writing is illegible. If you can help identify a place or name, we welcome your comments. The direct url to this digital collection: https://digicoll.manoa.hawaii.edu/shackford/

San Cai Tu Hui 三才图会. 1609.

The San Cai Tu Hui encyclopedia is one of approximately 120,000 volumes of stitched-bound Chinese books. Most of the books were printed in the Ming (1368-1644) and early Qing (1644-1911) periods. San Cai Tu Hui literally means "Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Three Powers,' which are Heaven, Earth, and Man. The collection deals with all aspects of Chinese culture, but is particularly strong in medicine, Buddhism, history, and literature. Divided into 14 main subject divisions, sub-divided into many topics. Contains many illustrations, diagrams, and portraits. It is the source of most of the stylized portraits of such personages as the Yellow Emperor, Confucius, and the ancient emperors that are found in many reference books, textbooks, and tourist manuals.