theguardian.com
Ancient Texts Highlight Global History of Books
The State Library of Victoria's World of the Book exhibition, celebrating its 20th anniversary, will display a 1,250-year-old Hyakumantō Darani, one of the world's earliest printed texts, alongside a 4,000-year-old cuneiform tablet and a medieval scribe's knife, showcasing the global history of books and writing.
- What are the potential implications of this exhibition for future research and understanding of the global history of print and literacy?
- The acquisition of the Hyakumantō Darani and the display of the cuneiform tablet highlight the continuous technological evolution of writing and information storage. This exhibition could inspire future research into the global history of print and the spread of literacy across various civilizations, challenging existing narratives. This showcases the diversity of print technology's origins.
- What is the significance of the State Library of Victoria's acquisition of the Hyakumantō Darani, and how does it impact our understanding of printing history?
- The State Library of Victoria recently acquired a 1,250-year-old Hyakumantō Darani, one of the world's earliest printed texts, adding to its World of the Book exhibition which has attracted five million visitors. This acquisition highlights the global history of books and the origins of printing in Asia, predating Gutenberg's press by 700 years. The library also possesses a 4,000-year-old cuneiform tablet, demonstrating the evolution of writing from tax receipts to elaborate texts.
- How does the juxtaposition of the Hyakumantō Darani with the 4,000-year-old cuneiform tablet illustrate the broader history of writing and information recording?
- The Hyakumantō Darani's display connects the evolution of writing across different cultures and time periods, from ancient Mesopotamia's cuneiform tax receipts to Japan's early Buddhist texts. The exhibition's five million visitors showcase the enduring human interest in the history of books and writing. The acquisition emphasizes the global and diverse origins of print technology, challenging Eurocentric perspectives.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The narrative prioritizes the acquisition of the Hyakumantō Darani as the most exciting event in the library's history, as stated by Dr. Welch. This emphasis, while understandable given the context, could shape the reader's perception of the exhibition's significance, focusing attention primarily on this single object. The headline could also be considered framing bias, as it highlights a specific anniversary and acquisition rather than the broader scope of the exhibition.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral and informative. Descriptive words like "exciting acquisition," "remarkably solid," and "extremely fragile" are used, but these are generally considered factual rather than loaded with subjective opinion. The overall tone is enthusiastic but avoids overly emotional or charged language.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the acquisition of the Hyakumantō Darani and the cuneiform tablet, potentially overlooking other significant milestones or perspectives in the history of printed text. While acknowledging the global nature of the history of the book, the article's emphasis might inadvertently downplay contributions from regions outside of Asia and Europe. There is no mention of the development of writing systems in other parts of the world, such as the Americas or Africa. This omission could limit the reader's understanding of the broader historical context.
False Dichotomy
The article doesn't present a false dichotomy, but it implicitly emphasizes the contrast between the Hyakumantō Darani and the Gutenberg press. While this highlights the early origins of printing in Asia, it might create an unintentional simplification of the complex history of print technology's development across different cultures and time periods.
Sustainable Development Goals
The exhibition promotes the history of books and writing, highlighting the evolution of literacy and knowledge sharing across cultures and time periods. This directly supports the UN SDG 4 (Quality Education) which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. The display of these historical artifacts fosters appreciation for the history of knowledge and education, encouraging further learning and research.