Chinese Gazetteers University of Toronto, East Asian Library Subjects China--Historical geography; China--History, Local; Physical geography--China History The collection was established in 1933. Description The collection is composed of Chinese gazetteers on all provinces of China during the Ming and Ch'ing Dynasties (from 1368-1912). The collection also includes titles on minorities in China. According to Cheng-siang Chen in "Geographical evaluation of the Chinese feng-chih", the local gazetteer, or "fangchih", is a "peculiar crystallization of Chinese culture". Local Chinese gazetteers are comprehensive books recording, in narratives, all facts about a place, many of which are geographical in nature. Geographical information on topography, climate, phenology, natural calamities, and irrigation is included. Information on the economic, social, and cultural geography of China is also found. The East Asian Library will continue to acquire vernacular materials as they are published. Material to fill gaps in the collection will be purchased. Language Chinese language material predominates in the collection. Holdings 10,000 volumes (approximately). Bibliographic Access The collection is catalogued. LC subject headings and classification are used. The holdings are recorded in the University of Toronto Library Catalogue and teh RLIN database. Physical Access The collection is open to University of Toronto users and to researchers. For further information visit: http://www.library.utoronto.ca/east/about_collections.htm. Interlibrary Loan: Yes. Reprography: Yes. Reference Assistance: Yes. Publications Describing Collection None at present.