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Queen's University ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ hosted an international academic delegation on Friday 27 March 2026 for the official unveiling of an historic collection of Chinese literature at the McClay Library.

The Siku Quanshu collection, which was commissioned in the 18^th century and brings together thousands of classical works across four branches of traditional Chinese scholarship (classics, history, philosophy and literature), was donated to Queen’s by Dr Moses Li, patron of the Siku Quanshu.

“The cultural value of the collection stands for a cornerstone of whole humanity’s knowledge,’’ said Dr Aglaia De Angeli, senior lecturer in Modern Chinese History at Queen’s.

“Dr Li’s visit to Queen’s to officially unveil the Siku Quanshu was an exciting occasion. His generosity towards Queen’s and Northern Ireland is testament to a life dedicated to educational philanthropy.’’

The Siku Quanshu, meaning complete library of the four treasuries, is one of the most ambitious literary projects in Chinese history and brings together works in classics, history, philosophy and literature. It was commissioned in the 18^th century by the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty.

The unveiling marks Siku Quanshu as an important step in strengthening global academic connections .

Among those in the international delegation were, Chen Hongmin, Director of the Centre for Chiang Kai-Shek and Modern China at Zhejiang University, Zhao Xiaohong, the centre’s assistant director, and Ye Meilan, President of Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications.

Jane O’Neill, Queen’s University Librarian said: “This remarkable collection will be an invaluable resource for our students and researchers and its presence in the library ensures it will inspire scholarship for generations to come.

“I am delighted that Dr. Li can join us to see the collection in site and share in this special occasion.’’

Deirdre Wildy, Head of Special Collections and Archives at Queen’s University, said:

“With the addition of the Siku Quanshu to our library, we have enhanced our research resources for Queen’s staff and students and the wider community in Northern Ireland. I am very pleased to balance the Western encyclopaedic tradition with that of the East at Queen’s.”

Following the unveiling ceremony, representatives from Queen’s and the international delegation held a round-table discussion on the importance of collaboration between institutions to advance research, cultural understanding and international academic co-operation.

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