Harvard-Yenching Library

Harvard-Yenching Library is the largest university library for East Asian research in the Western world. It is also the hub of distinguished East Asian Studies at Harvard University. Its collections stand at 1.3 million volumes, including approximately 750,000 in Chinese, 325,000 in Japanese, 153,000 in Korean, 19,000 in Vietnamese, 50,000 in various Western languages, 4,300 in Tibetan, 3,500 in Manchu, and 500 in Mongolian. In addition, the library subscribes to over 8,700 current periodicals and journals in the five distinct languages that the library is responsible for collecting, plus Chinese statistical yearbooks. The microform collection has grown to nearly 113,000 reels of microfilm or pieces of microfiche.

Highlights of the library's collections include several hundred rare Japanese Buddhist scrolls; a group of Dongba (Naxi) manuscripts in pictographic script; an extensive collection of Chinese rubbings; a large set of Korean genealogies and collected writings; significant holdings of early Vietnamese newspapers; the archives of the Lingnan University Trustees (a missionary university in Canton originally known as the Canton Christian College) from 1884 to 1952; missionary works in Chinese, including translations of the Bible in different dialects; Manchu works of historical and literary interest; printings of 18th century Tibetan and Mongolian Buddhist texts; and collections of personal papers, including those of Hu Han-min, an early Kuomintang elder statesman; George A. Fitch, who was for many years associated with the YMCA and other missionary activities in China; and Joseph Buttinger, author and Vietnam specialist.

This page is set up for providing accessible services to the East Asian Studies community at Harvard and beyond. We will post guides to collections, tutorials for databases and on-line resources, information about new holdings, and other messages. We also welcome you to share your knowledge and experience in using the library. Above all, we look forward to hearing your comments on how we can better serve our patrons.