Traditional Books in Oriental Asia

On the 28th and the 29th of May 2024 the University of Naples L’Orientale hosted a two-day seminar at Palazzo Corigliano. The focus of the seminar was on traditional books in Premodern Oriental Asia.

traditional books in Oriental Asia

The event was organized by three professors of the Department of Asia, Africa and Mediterranean Studies:

  • Prof. Antonio Manieri (Japanologist)
  • Prof. Kim Wi Seon (Koreanist)
  • Prof. Emanuele Raini (Sinologist)

Additionally, they invited Federica Olivotto, a librarian and Sinologist, and me to participate. Together, we delivered two lectures that explored the raw materials and structures of traditional books in Oriental Asia .

On the second day of the seminar, Akiyama Nobushige, a master and artist, provided a demonstration to the students on the process of Japanese papermaking. He explained the meticulous steps involved, from harvesting the plant fibers to boiling and beating them, ultimately resulting in the production of high-quality paper.

The seminar concluded with a lecture on cataloging by Stefania Castanò, followed by a visit to the University library with Antonella Muratgia to explore its rare and special collections.