Talk | Knowledge of Chinese Archival Bibliography

Speakers: Trần Phúc Khang and Bùi Hoàng Long
Time: 6:30PM - 9:00PM | Sunday 24.05.2026
Location: Saigon Ward (exact address will be sent via email)
Register for the event at:https://forms.gle/tLv8S8wQzecqzeEQ6

Have you ever wondered how people in the past searched for a book within a vast archive? How were tens of thousands of texts, spanning over 2000 years of history, organized into a logical and accessible system? The answer lies in the bibliographic catalog system, the “backbone” that shaped the immense body of Chinese knowledge.

In this session, we will explore with the speakers the classification system of the "Siku Quanshu" as a way to avoid getting “lost” when beginning to study Chinese culture. Together, we will discover:

• The flow of time: The unique characteristics of bibliographic catalogs across different historical periods
• The Qing dynasty four-part classification: The “revolution” in book classification and the key contents you need to know
• The entry key: How to use bibliography as a map to begin your journey into Chinese cultural studies
• The influence of the four-part classification system on archival practices in Vietnam during the Nguyen dynasty

Whether you are a beginner or already have some background, this talk will offer you a more systematic and in-depth perspective on the vast heritage of Chinese literature.

Năm Năm Tháng Tháng
x Tempo Nexus
x Trần Phúc Khang

Speaker introduction:

Trần Phúc Khang graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Han-Nom studies and is continuing his postgraduate studies in Hán-Nôm at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, HCMC. He has collaborated in organizing programs on bibliographic studies and introductory Han-Nom classes with Năm Năm Tháng Tháng. Currently, he focuses on research in ancient Vietnamese bilingual books/dictionaries and expands his studies on medieval Vietnamese texts.

Bùi Hoàng Long is currently teaching Chinese at the Faculty of Foreign Languages, Ho Chi Minh City University of Foreign Languages - Information Technology; holds a Bachelor's degree in Chinese Studies from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU-HCM; and a Master's degree in Chinese Language and Script from Fudan University, China.