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Nearly 100 activities will kick off in Xuhui district during the five-day May Day holiday in celebration of World Book and Copyright Day, which falls on April 23.
On Saturday, “Light”, a special exhibition of the “General Star Atlas of the Southern and Northern Hemispheres Separated by the Equator” opened at the Ziqiwei Library in the Xujiahui area, as a highlight of the series of events. It is a stunning historical work under survey and drawing by Xu Guangqi (1562–1633), a scholar and statesman during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644).
The German Jesuit Johann Adam Schall von Bell drafted the explanatory texts and coordinated the general design for the woodblock print work relating to the global history of art, religion and science.
Composed during the reign of Emperor Chongzhen (1611–1644), it was the largest Eastern imperial star atlas and also the oldest extant. This was Xu’s last work.
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It represents the culmination of collaborative research between Chinese and Western astronomers, and is a silent witness to East and West scientific and cultural exchange.
The exhibition at the library will go on till May 21.
As Xuhui is known as the “root of Haipai (Shanghai-style) culture”, a Haipai Culture Research Center was unveiled in collaboration with the Xuhui District Culture and Tourism Bureau and the Shanghai Research Institute of Culture and History of Shanghai Normal University it was done.
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A digital version of the library went online at the same time, allowing readers to enjoy browsing through the WeChat mini program as it faithfully mimics the library’s reading areas. Readers can also borrow books with the help of robots in the virtual world.
The 100 activities will include exhibitions, performances, lectures and reading, science, art and education programs.
Of these, a meteorological satellite exhibition has also been opened in the library, which includes activities to popularize science.
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Date: May 21, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
admission free
Location: Ziqiwei Library Zhujiahui Academy (Zhujia District Library New Building)
Address: 158 Kaoxi Road N. No. 158, Kaoxi North Road