About the Association
The European Association for the Protection of Chinese Historical Documents is dedicated to the discovery, preservation, cataloguing, research, translation, and dissemination of historical documents relating to China that are preserved across Europe. These materials include books, manuscripts, letters, archival records, maps, images, travel accounts, missionary writings, and other historical sources that bear witness to the long history of encounters and exchanges between China and Europe.
Our Background
For centuries, European missionaries, diplomats, travelers, merchants, scholars, and artists recorded their observations and knowledge of China in a wide variety of forms. Today, these historical materials are dispersed among libraries, archives, museums, universities, religious institutions, and private collections throughout Europe. Some remain little known or have yet to be systematically catalogued, digitized, translated, and studied.
The Association was established to bring together these scattered resources and the people and institutions concerned with their preservation. By connecting collections, scholarship, conservation, translation, and publishing, we aim to give these historical documents renewed visibility and lasting value for future research.
Our Purpose
The Association seeks to promote the long-term preservation, systematic documentation, scholarly study, translation, publication, and public accessibility of historical materials relating to China in Europe. We believe that these documents are not only valuable sources for the study of Chinese history, but also an important part of Europe’s cultural memory and of the broader history of exchange between civilizations.
Through international cooperation, we aim to bring together scholars, collectors, libraries, archives, museums, universities, research institutions, translators, and publishers, creating a lasting platform for the preservation and study of these historical sources and for new research and publishing projects.
What We Do
The Association works to identify, document, preserve, and digitize historical materials relating to China held in Europe. Our activities include cataloguing collections, supporting conservation and restoration, facilitating scholarly research and translation, and promoting the publication and dissemination of important historical sources.
We also encourage cooperation with libraries, archives, museums, universities, research institutions, publishers, and private collectors in Europe and China. Through joint projects, we hope to make valuable historical materials more accessible to researchers and the wider public while ensuring their long-term preservation.
International Cooperation
The preservation and study of historical documents require cooperation across borders and disciplines. The Association therefore welcomes partnerships with libraries, archives, museums, universities, research institutions, cultural organizations, publishers, collectors, translators, and scholars in Europe, China, and other parts of the world.
We hope to develop joint projects in document preservation, digitization, cataloguing, academic research, translation, publication, exhibitions, and cultural exchange, allowing these historical sources to contribute to a deeper understanding of the long history of relations between China and Europe.
Join Us
We welcome individuals and institutions who share our commitment to the preservation and study of historical documents relating to China. Whether through research, collection, translation, publishing, professional expertise, voluntary participation, or financial support, every contribution can help preserve these valuable records for future generations.