This volume investigates the crucial role of Chinese encyclopaedias in disseminating modern knowledge during a period of significant cultural and educational transition. Between 1870 and 1930, as China grappled with the influx of Western ideas and the limited availability of formal schooling, these encyclopaedias served as vital resources for an entire generation seeking to understand a rapidly changing world. The book brings to light numerous of these works, many of which are obscure even to specialists and have never been reprinted. Through the collective expertise of scholars specializing in this era, the studies reveal how these encyclopaedias facilitated the cross-cultural and linguistic transfer of knowledge.

This collection of studies offers a pioneering examination of Chinese encyclopaedias from a pivotal era in global knowledge exchange. The contributors, long-time collaborators specializing in the period, bring to light works that are largely unknown, even to experts. The research highlights the significant function these encyclopaedias played in bridging the gap between traditional Chinese learning and the influx of modern global knowledge. The volume's focus on the migration and ordering of knowledge across cultures provides a unique perspective on intellectual history.