Editor's Note: Housed in a former Anglican church on Tonglinge Road, Model Bookstore Plus Poem Space offers an immersive journey into the survival story of the Yongle Encyclopedia — the monumental literary project and symbol of unified knowledge from the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) — in "The Epic of Book Guardians: Yongle Encyclopedia Preservation Special Exhibition."

Reproduced from authorized versions held by the Palace Museum in Taipei, the 62 showcased volumes not only capture the artistry of Ming calligraphy, but also the perilous journey of preservation through war and reunion.

The exhibition is presented in three chapters: "Names of the Nameless," highlighting protectors from Lu Runxiang to Lu Xun; "Zero Distance," offering close encounters with high-quality replicas and the encyclopedia's intricate structure; and "Inheritance," inviting visitors to write notes to guardians of historic books, linking the legacy of cultural guardianship to future generations.

The exhibition poster for "The Epic of Book Guardians: Yongle Encyclopedia Preservation Special Exhibition" at Model Bookstore Plus Poem Space, Beijing, Aug. 7, 2025. [Photo by Liu Ziying/China.org.cn]