A new book, From Oracle Bones to E-Publications: Three Millennia of Publishing in China, has been published in Chinese, English, and German editions, and will be used to showcase China's publishing industry at the 2009 Frankfurt Book Fair.

 

Huang Youyi (center), vice president of China International Publishing Group (CIPG), and vice chairman of the International Federation of Translators, speaks at a seminar on the new book From Oracle Bones to E-Publications: Three Millennia of Publishing in China, held at the CIPG HQ in Beijing on October 10, 2009.

At a Beijing seminar on October 10, China International Publishing Group Vice President Huang Youyi said the book was of extraordinary significance. 

Although China has a rich and ancient publishing history, it has failed to present it to the world, said Huang. From Oracle Bones to E-Publications: Three Millennia of Publishing in China will fill a gap in overseas knowledge of China's publishing history.

The lavishly illustrated book was specially designed for the Frankfurt Book Fair where China is this year's Guest of Honor.

Gui Xiaofeng, president of the China Editor's Society, said the book will help to spread understanding of Chinese culture.

Editor-in-chief Xiao Dongfa, director of the Center for Publishing Studies at Peking University School of Journalism, told China.org.cn, "This book is the result of long term accumulation. I have devoted my life to the study of China's publishing history and the history of Chinese books since 1979."

Gui Xiaofeng (right), president of the China Editor's Society, speaks at a seminar on the book From Oracle Bones to E-Publications: Three Millennia of Publishing in China, held at China International Publishing Group in Beijing on October 10, 2009.

 

Xiao said the book gives a comprehensive account of the long history of publishing in China and also highlights the radical changes underway as a result of the introduction of new technology.