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Chinese Studies: Special Collections

Group of hanging red Chinese lanterns

The Library's Special Collections provide a rich source for materials relating to Chinese history and culture.

What are Special Collections?

picture of a Chaucer manuscript and an iPad image of the same manuscript

What are Special Collections?

The University of Manchester Library holds one of the finest collections of rare books, manuscripts, archives and visual collections in the world. These collections are mainly concentrated in the magnificent building on Deansgate, The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, in the centre of Manchester. They are also housed in the Main Library on the University campus and at the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah RACE Centre, in Manchester Central Library. This resource introduces the different types of materials found in Special Collections and explains how they can be used to support your studies. For general tips on accessing digital and physical collections and visiting our reading room, please look at our other blog resources.

Special Collections subject area guides

Our Special Collections are both rich and vast. The following collections are an excellent place to begin exploring what's on offer with relation to Chinese Studies.

East Asia Collections

Celebrations of the Qing Emperor's birthday, showing elephants, crowds of people and pavilions

 

History of Art and Architecture Collections

Detail from Latin MS 164 with peacock, toad and flower decorations

 

Visual Collections

Dancing fauns and bacchants

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