The Bodleian Libraries Launch the East Asian Manuscripts and Rare Books Catalogue

The Bodleian Libraries at the University of Oxford have unveiled a major new digital resource that redefines access to one of the world’s most significant East Asian collections. The East Asian Manuscripts and Rare Books catalogue—now live at https://east-asian.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/ a transformative step forward in how scholars and the public can explore the library’s historic holdings.

The catalogue succeeds the long-standing Serica database, which previously provided online access to the Bodleian’s Chinese and Manchu rare books and manuscripts. The new platform expands well beyond its predecessor: for the first time, it brings together descriptions of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean manuscripts, rare books, calligraphy and painting scrolls, albums, and a wide range of handwritten materials produced before 1912.

Developed to reflect and respect the rich bibliographic traditions of East Asia, the catalogue introduces an array of new features designed to enhance discovery and research. Users can now browse items by language, date of publication, subject classification (四部分類法), or collection—such as Backhouse, Douce, and Sinica—offering a more nuanced and intuitive way to navigate the library's extensive holdings.

The launch of the East Asian Manuscripts and Rare Books catalogue represents the beginning of a new chapter for the study of East Asian textual heritage at Oxford. As more materials continue to be described and integrated, the Bodleian invites researchers, students, and the wider public to explore the resource, offer feedback, and rediscover the depth and diversity of its East Asian collections.