2. Introduction to history books
Sikuquanshu was compiled by more than 360 senior officials and scholars, including Ji Yun, under the auspices of Emperor Qianlong, and copied by more than 3,800 people. It took 13 years to compile. The series is divided into four parts: classics, history, books and collections, hence the name Sku. * * * There are more than 3,500 kinds of books, with 79,000 volumes and 36,000 volumes, with about 800 million words, which basically cover all the books in ancient China, so it is called "encyclopedia". At that time, Emperor Qianlong ordered seven copies of Siku Quanshu to be hidden in all parts of the country. The first four volumes are kept in the Wen Yuan Pavilion of the Forbidden City, Wenshui Pavilion in Shenyang, Liaoning, Wen Yuan Pavilion in Yuanmingyuan and Jinwen Pavilion in Chengde, Hebei, which is the so-called "North Fourth Pavilion". These three copied parts are kept in Wen Hui Pavilion in Yangzhou, Wenzong Pavilion in Zhenjiang and Wen Lan Pavilion in Hangzhou, which is the so-called "South Three Pavilions".
3. Influence
Although the compilation of Sikuquanshu has some mistakes, such as abridging and digging up the contents, it has also played a certain role in some aspects. Secondly, the methods of ancient books arrangement, especially in compiling, collating, bibliography, compiling and engraving series, have left many beneficial inspirations for future generations: in compiling, there are 385 kinds of lost books compiled by officials of Siku Library from Yongle Dadian and included in Siku Quanshu for future generations to collect. In collating, it sets a good example for later generations. In the aspect of bibliography, the compiling method of Sikuquanshu Catalogue has had a far-reaching influence on later generations. In the aspect of compiling and engraving series, taking Sikuquanshu as an example, the Qing Dynasty set off an upsurge of compiling and engraving series. In recent years, the catalogue series of Sikuquanshu and the sequel of Sikuquanshu have also been published.