Investigations On Sibao Bookshop Printing

Sibao Bookshop Printing is an unusual literary work in the history of western Fujian or even Fujian culture. It is another center for printing books after the decline of Jianyang Bookshop in Fujian Province. Just as said by Mr. Zhen Zhenzhe, Sibao was one of the four great bookshops of the whole country in Qing Dynasty, as good as Pecking, Wuhan, and Jiangxi Xuwan Bookshops. With the development of investigations, people in academic field are getting more and more concern about Sibao Bookshop Printing. Otherwise, some scholars are not set a high value on it; some researchers on ancient books even think there is nothing to be praised in the business of book printing in Fujian after the decline of Jianyang Bookshop. These researchers do not know that there was a Sibao Bookshop after the decline. This article tries to discuss the profound historic and cultural influence of Sibao bookshop, to improve the investigation of the history of bookshop printing of Fujian and to return its proper place in the history.This article puts Sibao Bookshop Printing in the view of historical culture. At first it analyses its historical background, takes up the following three factors: culture education, geographical conditions and political economy. Then the article discusses the development of Sibao Bookshop Printing, from its sources to booming and decline. And then it concludes the features of its content, which faces the masses as well as keeps abreast of the times and its form, which is ofdistinctive style. In the end of the article, the historic and cultural influence of Sibao Bookshop Printing is discussed. Sibao Bookshop Printing is of great contribution in conserving ancient documents and spreading national culture and is of great influence in promoting the development and spread of popular folk culture especially in helping Central Plains culture to spread to the south. Besides, Sibal Bookshop Printing promoted the business of book printing in Fujian in the way of book- selling and in protecting intellectual property rights.