Ancient book restorers bring broken old books "back to life" in China's Jilin

Zhang Hua, a restorer of ancient books in the library of Jilin University, works on the restoration of an ancient book at the library of Jilin University in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, April 19, 2024. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)

Jilin University boasts a collection of nearly 400,000 ancient books in its library. According to Zhang Qi, a restorer of ancient books in the library of Jilin University, the school has been carrying out the restoration work of ancient books since the 1950s, which has never been interrupted for decades. Generations of ancient book restorers have brought countless broken old books "back to life" with their skillful hands and ingenuity.

The restoration process of ancient books is meticulous and complicated. The time required to restore an ancient book can range from a few days to several months. In the process of repairing books, restorers will formulate different plans for different occasions, so that the old books would regain their original appearances.

In Zhang Qi's view, the restoration of ancient books is a skill to remember. "It is our responsibility to restore the original appearance of the books to the greatest extent so that they can be preserved and passed on for a longer period of time," Zhang Qi said.

Zhang Qi, a restorer of ancient books in the library of Jilin University, observes the damage of the pages of an ancient book ahead of restoration at the library of Jilin University in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, April 19, 2024. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)

Wang Lihua, director of the ancient books department of Jilin University Library, looks through the catalogues for ancient books at the library of Jilin University in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, April 19, 2024. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)

Zhang Qi, a restorer of ancient books in the library of Jilin University, mends the pages of an ancient book at the library of Jilin University in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, April 19, 2024. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)

Wang Lihua, director of the ancient books department of Jilin University Library, checks the preservation of ancient books at the library of Jilin University in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, April 19, 2024. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)

Zhang Hua, a restorer of ancient books in the library of Jilin University, prepares for the restoration of an ancient book at the library of Jilin University in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, April 19, 2024. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)

Zhang Hua, a restorer of ancient books in the library of Jilin University, mends the pages of an ancient book at the library of Jilin University in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, April 19, 2024. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)

This combo file photo provided by the library of Jilin University shows the comparison of some ancient books before and after restoration. (Xinhua)

Zhang Qi, a restorer of ancient books in the library of Jilin University, sprays water on the restored pages of an ancient book for flattening at the library of Jilin University in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, April 19, 2024. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)

Zhang Qi, a restorer of ancient books in the library of Jilin University, observes the restoration of an ancient book at the library of Jilin University in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, April 19, 2024. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)

Zhang Hua, a restorer of ancient books in the library of Jilin University, observes the damage of the pages of an ancient book ahead of restoration at the library of Jilin University in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, April 19, 2024. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)