In cooperation with the Office of Communications, the Asian
Division regularly publishes press releases about its latest
activities. Past releases can be viewed below.
Those interested in staying informed can also subscribe to the
Library’s International Collections blog, “4 Corners of the World,” or follow the
Library’s International Collections Facebook pageExternal link
to learn about new collection acquisitions, little-known items,
Library treasures, digital initiatives, and upcoming events
related to the Asian Division.
May 9, 2023
(23-046)
Library of Congress Completes Digitization of Yongle Encyclopedia, Largest Reference Work of Pre-Modern Era
The Library of Congress has completed a yearslong effort to digitize the Yongle Encyclopedia (Yongle dadian 永樂大典), the largest reference work created in pre-modern China, and possibly the world. Digital publication of the 41 volumes held in the Library’s collections provides open access to one of the most extensive attempts in world history to capture the entirety of human knowledge in book form.The massive…
Date:2023-05-09
March 3, 2023
(23-023)
Library of Congress to Celebrate National Cherry Blossom Festival
The Library of Congress will host its annual Japanese Culture Day in celebration of the 2023 National Cherry Blossom Festival, an annual commemoration of Japan’s 1912 gift to the U.S. of 3,020 cherry trees.Japanese Culture Day will take place at the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building on Saturday, April 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring family activities, including Japanese harp performances, storytelling, and…
Date:2023-03-03
March 23, 2021
(21-011)
Library Debuts New Video Series for 2021 National Cherry Blossom Festival
The Library of Congress celebrates the 2021 National Cherry Blossom Festival by debuting a new video series that highlights both historic and contemporary traditions of springtime flower viewing. “Cherry Blossom Viewing over the Centuries” features three short films that showcase a stunning variety of artifacts from Library collections, including watercolor drawings, colorful woodblock prints, vintage photos and beautifully designed posters from Japanese and American…
Date:2021-03-23
January 25, 2021
(21-003)
William Farquhar Correspondence and Other 19th Century Malay Letters Now Online at the Library of Congress
The Library of Congress today announced the digitization of 46 Malay letters from the 19th century, mainly from Malay kings and Southeast Asian notables to William Farquhar, a pioneering British colonial administrator in Singapore (1819-1823), providing online access to an important resource on the founding of that country.The digitization comes ahead of the 202nd anniversary of the signing of the Singapore Treaty, which greenlighted…
Date:2021-01-25
February 6, 2020
(20-001)
Library Announces Annual Cherry Blossom Festival Events
The Library of Congress announces two cultural events during the 2020 National Cherry Blossom Festival, an annual commemoration of Japan’s 1912 gift to the U.S. of 3,020 cherry trees. An artwork display and book launch for “Cherry Blossoms: Sakura Collections from the Library of Congress” will kick off the Library’s celebration on Thursday, April 9. The gift book visualizes the fascinating history of cherry…
Date:2020-02-06
September 24, 2019
(19-095)
Library to Mark 150th Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s Birth with Display of Special Collections
A special display at the Library of Congress will mark the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth on Oct. 2, featuring a letter written in Gandhi’s hand, a rare copy of the Indian Constitution and other items exploring Gandhi’s influence on Martin Luther King Jr. and the U.S. civil rights movement.The one-day display from the Library’s collections will be presented Oct. 2 from 11…
Date:2019-09-24
July 17, 2019
(19-071)
Library of Congress “Anime for All” Returns
The exclusive screening of the newly released GKIDS animated film “Okko’s Inn” will highlight the Library of Congress’ “Anime for All” series, which is being presented in conjunction with Otakon, Washington, D.C.’s annual convention celebrating Asian pop culture (anime, manga, music, movies, video games, etc.) and its fandom. “Anime for All,” a celebration of East Asian culture, mythology, pop culture and inspiration, will be…
Date:2019-07-17
May 6, 2019
(19-046)
Centuries of Rare Chinese Books Now Online at the Library of Congress
In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage month, the Library of Congress has digitized and made available online 1,000 Chinese rare books produced before 1796. The Chinese Rare Book Digital Collection includes the most valuable titles and editions housed in the Library’s Asian Division, some of which date as far back as the 10th century and are the only extant copies in the world.This…
Date:2019-05-06
April 27, 2019
(19-043)
Summer Is Coming: “Travel Around the World” Exploring Culture And Science through Library Events
This summer, the Library of Congress will bring you a host of events on a variety of topics. Concerts, lectures, film screenings, symposiums and special events all fill the public events calendar. Events will take place in the Thomas Jefferson Building (10 First Street S.E., Washington, D.C. 20540) or the James Madison Memorial Building (101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C. 20540). Please note that…
Date:2019-04-27
February 11, 2019
(19-012)
Library to Host Cherry Blossom Festival Events
In honor of the annual celebration of Japan’s 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees, the Library of Congress announced that it will host two cultural events during the 2019 National Cherry Blossom Festival, the nation’s most celebrated springtime festivity. Japanese Culture Day will kick off the Library’s daylong celebration on Saturday, March 23, with a trove of family activities, including music, dancing, lectures and…
Date:2019-02-11
January 22, 2019
(19-006)
Spring Is Coming: Symposiums and Celebrations Highlight the Library’s Event Calendar
This spring, the Library of Congress will bring you a host of events on a variety of topics. Concerts, lectures, film screenings, symposiums and special events all fill the public events calendar. Events will take place in the Thomas Jefferson Building (10 First Street S.E., Washington, D.C. 20540) or the James Madison Memorial Building (101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C. 20540). Please note that…
Date:2019-01-22
July 6, 2018
(18-088)
Library of Congress Offers Unprecedented Access to North Korean Serial Collection
Home to one of the most prominent North Korean collections in the Western Hemisphere, the Asian Division at the Library of Congress has rolled out the North Korean Serials Database, an online indexing tool that offers researchers enhanced access to periodicals and articles published as far back as the 1940s.The database contains 34,000 indexed records for articles in 18 journals from North Korea that…
Date:2018-07-06
April 16, 2018
(18-042)
Library of Congress Digitizes Unique Japanese Censorship Collection
The Library of Congress’ Asian Division has digitized its Japanese Censorship Collection, a unique online archive comprising more than 1,000 marked-up copies of government-censored monographs and galley proofs from the 1920s and 1930s in Japan. The collection, originally from the Home Ministry’s library, reveals traces of the otherwise-hidden censorship process of the Japanese government through marginal notes, stamps, penciled lines and commentary inscribed by…
Date:2018-04-16
March 23, 2018
(18-031)
The Library’s Spring Fling Pop-Up Exhibition Blooms on Capitol Hill
The Library of Congress is bringing the feeling of spring to Capitol Hill with a display that explores the history of the beloved Japanese cherry blossoms and the living history of the National Cherry Blossom Festival through archival objects, photographs and art.The Library is hosting “LOC Spring Fling,” a pop-up exhibition exploring the sights, sounds and smells of the spring season through treasures from…
Date:2018-03-23
March 8, 2018
(18-017)
Library of Congress Offers Free Spring Activities
Spring season brings warm temperatures, fresh flowers and free Library of Congress programming celebrating women in history, poetry, literature, art and science while introducing patrons to international culture and history with lectures, symposiums, book talks and a pop-up display.The Library recently announced the official events that will be held in conjunction with the National Cherry Blossom Festival , as well as a host of…
Date:2018-03-08
December 8, 2017
(17-176)
Spend the Chilly Months Inside the Library of Congress
This winter season, the Library will host a multitude of free programming that highlight musical genius, showcase film, open the doors of the Main Reading Room and introduces patrons to a world of knowledge and recent findings with lectures, symposiums and book talks. Winter is the perfect time for music enthusiasts to reserve their tickets for the spring “Concerts from the Library of Congress”…
Date:2017-12-08
September 11, 2017
(17-118)
Autumn Events at the Library of Congress
The Library of Congress will host an array of programming this fall season that celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, welcomes a new poet laureate and introduces new ways to experience the nation’s library through author talks, tours and online offerings. After opening with a spectacular 2017 National Book Festival, the Library is following up with a commemoration of Hispanic Heritage Month, beginning Sept. 15 with…
Date:2017-09-11
July 27, 2017
(17-104)
Library of Congress Junior Fellows Display Collection Treasures
The Library of Congress Junior Fellows Summer Interns yesterday presented more than150 rare and unique items from 15 Library divisions. “Display Day” was open to the public for the first time since the program’s inauguration in 1991.The display provides the opportunity for fellows to discuss the historic significance of the collection items they have researched and processed during their 10-week internships. Examples included:An early…
Date:2017-07-27
January 27, 2017
(17-011)
Library to Host Events in Celebration of National Cherry Blossom Festival
The Library of Congress will host Japanese Culture Day on March 25 and a panel discussion on bonsai trees on April 11, in conjunction with the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the annual celebration in Washington, D.C., of its gift of cherry trees from Japan.Japanese Culture Day will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 25 in the Young Readers Center…
Date:2017-01-27
September 2, 2016
(16-149)
Ko Un, Acclaimed Korean Poet, to Read at Library Sept. 19
The Library of Congress will present Ko Un, a distinguished Korean poet, in a reading on Sept. 19. Ko will read his poetry in Korean and Brother Anthony of Taizé will read the English translations.
Adoption from China Subject of May 29 Lecture
The Library of Congress Asian Division will sponsor a lecture and book signing by British-Chinese broadcast journalist and writer Xinran on May 29.
Library’s 2011 Florence Tan Moeson Fellows Announced
The Library has selected seven individuals to receive the 2011 Florence Tan Moeson Fellowship. Under this program, scholars have the opportunity to conduct research using the Library’s Asian collections.
Mongolian Americans Are Subject of Dec. 3 Program
“Cultural Stewardship in Mongolian American Communities” will be the subject of a lecture by Alicia Campi, at the Library of Congress at noon on Friday, Dec. 3.
Library’s 2010 Florence Tan Moeson Fellows Announced
The Library has selected nine individuals to receive 2010 Florence Tan Moeson Fellowships. Under this program, scholars have the opportunity to conduct research using the Library’s Asian collections.
Date:2010-05-14
May 3, 2010
(10-102)
Library’s Japanese Collection Past, Present and Future Subject of Display, Symposium
The Library’s Japanese collection, consisting of more than 1.17 million items, is the largest and most comprehensive collection of its kind outside of the country of origin. Selected treasures from the collection are the focus of a new Library display titled “Japanese Collection at the Library of Co
Date:2010-05-03
April 16, 2010
(10-075)
First Japanese Diplomatic Mission to U.S. Is Subject of May 24 Lecture
“Samurai 150! The First Japanese Diplomatic Mission to the U.S. in 1860,” will be held at the Library of Congress from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, May 24, in the Mumford Room, located on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C.
