Lin‑Yea Cheng
Martha C. Leung
Joyce Y. Wu

 Abstract

Surveys the publication of reference books in Taiwan between 1972 and 1988, as a continuation of Tze‑chung Li’s 1974 study. The number of reference books published in the period was 4,079; social science materials accounted for 38% and science/technology materials for 23%. Principal publications in all categories are cited and annotated.

 Introduction

In 1974 Tze‑chung Li published a paper examining 25 years of reference books published in Taiwan. [1] Since then, Taiwan has enjoyed domestic stability, economic prosperity, and continued industrial and technological growth. With the lifting of martial law in July 1987, and the removal of stringent publication laws, the publishing industry has seen a period of expansion, [2] reaching about 12,000 titles a year. (According to Li [3] 12,010 titles were published in 1987 (excluding textbooks and reprints). In the Republic of China Yearbook 1990‑1991 [4] the figure given was “some 12,000 titles a year.” The number reported in the Publications Yearbook, Republic of China 1990 for the year 1988 was 11,982 titles.) [5]

This paper surveys the publication of reference books in Taiwan between 1972 and 1988, and presents a list of significant reference works that are representative of their respective fields. The entries were selected based on the materials most often used in libraries served by the authors. A work is considered a reference book if it provides succinct information on a topic, or if it refers the user to sources where more detailed information on the same topic is found.

 Overview of Book Publication

According to Li, reference works accounted for about three percent of all the books published in Taiwan during the quarter century from 1945 to 1971. From 1972 through 1980 the ratio of reference book publication to total book publication dropped below three percent. The decline was probably caused by the steady increase in book publication (from around 8,200 to around 9,500) [6] while reference publication remained around 200. [7] From 1981 through 1988 reference publication again increased and remained at three percent or more of total book publication. Table I shows the comparison between reference and total book publication from 1972 to 1988.

TABLE I

Table II shows the publication of reference books by category. Compared to the previous quarter century (1945‑1971), every category has decreased except science and technology and humanities. In Li’s paper general works and social science accounted for 55.9% while during the subsequent period the same two categories together only accounted for 53.7% of the total. The category of history and area studies had accounted for 15.3%; this category dropped to 6.5%. Science and technology increased from 14.4% to 23%, and humanities from 14.3% to 16.8%.

TABLE II

In Li’s report the bulk of the reference books were from trade publishers—65.2%; recently, trade publishers still produce most of the reference books, but government agencies have published more of them (rising from 22.9% to 34.5%), and institutions, universities, societies, etc., have also increased their publication of reference books (rising from 11.7% to 14%) as shown in Table III.

TABLE III

Reprints accounted for 38.7%, of the reference works published during the period 1945 to 1971. That picture has changed. In the later period, reprints of reference books only accounted for 6.2% of total reference book publication; as shown in Table IV.

TABLE IV

 Principal Reference Titles, 1972‑1987

What follows is an annotated list of significant reference books issued from 1972‑1987, categorized in five different subject areas: I. general works, II. social sciences, III. history and area studies, IV. humanities, and V. science and technology. When the author and publisher are the same, only the author is given. The Wade‑Giles Romanization system is used for Chinese titles, and an English translation is given in parentheses. All books are in the Chinese language, unless otherwise indicated.

 I. General Works

Union catalogs

National Central Library. Chung‑hua‑min‑kuo chung wen chi kan lien ho mu lu. (Union Catalog of Chinese Periodicals.) 2nd ed. Taipei, 1982. 2 vols.

A union catalog of 8,398 Chinese periodicals held by 155 libraries in Taiwan. The arrangement is in the order of stroke counts of the first character in the title. Every entry gives an identification number, classification number, ISSN, title, romanized title, frequency, date first published, place of publication, editor, publisher, notes, library holdings, and formats. There are classified and romanized indexes.

National Central Library. Chung‑hua‑min‑kuo t’u shu lien ho mu lu. (Union Catalog of Chinese Books.) Taipei, 1977‑ . Irregular.

A union catalog of Chinese books in 16 libraries in Taiwan. Arranged in the order of stroke counts of the first character in the title. Each entry includes title, author, date of publication, place of publication, publisher, series, library holdings, and classification number.

Directories

Directory of Taiwan, Republic of China 1988. Taipei: The China News, 1951‑ . Annual. In English.

“The goal is to present concise information that the average tourist, the media, and the resident or visiting businessman will need to know.”—Preface. Information includes: political system, public enterprises, diplomatic institutes, educational and sports organizations, cultural facilities, trade and economical associations, financial affiliations, services, entertainment, mass communication, industrial and commercial companies, marine and air transportation, general information, and chronology of events.

National Central Library, Bureau of International Exchange of Publications. Chung‑hua‑min‑kuo ksueh‑shu chi‑kou lu. (Directory of Cultural Organizations of the Republic of China.) 6th ed. Taipei, 1987. 1,102 p. Bilingual: English and Chinese.

“Designed to strengthen services to domestic and overseas scholars and to promote liaison among cultural organizations both in the R.O.C. and abroad. Nine hundred and eighty organizations have been collected.”—Preface. The main body is divided into four categories: learned societies, universities and colleges, libraries, institutes of Chinese studies, social educational centers, and cultural centers. Information common to all entries includes identification number, current official name, address, telephone number, president/director, organization, and publications. There are three indexes: 1) subject index of learned societies; 2) title index; and 3) stroke count index.

Encyclopedias

Chang, Chih‑chien, chief editor. Huan‑hua pai k’e ch’uan shu. (Huan‑hua Encyclopedia.) Taipei: Huan‑hua Publishing Co., 1982. 20 vols.

The encyclopedia is arranged under seven subject areas: humanities, science, history, geography, social sciences, life, and art. Entries are arranged in order of the National Phonetic Symbols for mandarin. Appendixes include—subject index, English index, Chinese index with romanization, and index to the number of strokes of the first word of the entry. Each entry includes Chinese pronunciation, English terminology, explanation in Chinese, and “see” and “see also” references. There are a total of 15,000 entries, all signed.

Chinese Cultural University and the China Academy. Chung‑hua pai k’e ch’uan shu. (Chung‑hua Encyclopedia.) Taipei, 1981‑83. 10 vols.

Entries in this encyclopedia are arranged in 40 categories with over 15,000 articles. The order of entries is by the number of strokes in the first word. The 10th volume is divided into four parts: 1) table of contents for all 10 volumes; 2) chronology of the Republic of China; 3) classified index; and 4) index to English‑Chinese entries.

Editorial Committee. Yu shih shao nien pai k’e ch’uan shu. (Young Lion Youth Encyclopedia.) Taipei: Yu Shih Cultural Co., 1983. 11 vols.

An encyclopedia for youth. More than 7,000 entries, arranged by the stroke count of the first word of each entry.

Taiwan Provincial Government, Department of Education. Chunghua erh tung pai k’e ch’uan shu. (Chinese Children’s Encyclopedia.) 5th ed. Taipei, 1981. 14 vols.

Entries in this encyclopedia for children are arranged by National Phonetic Symbols. There are “see also” references, and separate indexes for each volume. The last volume contains an index to the whole set. Articles are not signed.

Bibliographies

Chang, Chin‑lang. Chung wen ts’an k’ao yung shu chih yin. (Guide to Chinese Reference Books.) Taipei: The Liberal Arts Press, 1983. 956 p.

The newest and the best annotated bibliography of its kind, listing 2,849 books and periodical articles. The book is divided into 10 chapters: reference services and reference books, bibliographies, indexes, dictionaries, encyclopedias, yearbooks, biographies, geographical works, statistical works, laws and regulations, directories, and manuals. Entries are first arranged by the type of reference work and then by subject.

National Science Council, Science and Technology Information Center. Chung‑hua‑min‑kuo po shih lun wen chai yao chi shuo shih lun wen mu lu. (Abstracts of Chinese Doctoral Dissertations and Catalog of Master’s Theses.) Taipei, 1985‑ . Annual.

Abstracts of Doctoral dissertations and lists of master’s theses from 31 universities and colleges in Taiwan. The book is divided into four parts:

1) Abstracts of dissertations (in six categories: science, applied science, medicine, agriculture, management, humanities and social sciences. Each entry includes an identification number, title, author, advisor, and name of institution); 2) List of theses (entries in this category are the same as those in the dissertation category except that there are no abstracts); 3) Author index; 4) List of graduate schools.

Wang, Ch’ung‑ming. Chung‑kuo shan pen shu t’i yao. (A Selection of Chinese Rare Books.) Taipei: Ming‑wen Book Co. Ltd., 1984. 707 p.

A descriptive list of some 4,400 Chinese rare books in the collections of the National Peking Library, Peking University Library, and the Library of Congress. The location of each entry is indicated. The book is arranged by the traditional S’su‑k’u classification: ching, shih, tzu, and chi.

Wang, Erh‑ming, ed. Chung‑kuo wen hsien hsi i shu mu. (Catalog of Chinese Documents Translated into Western Languages.) Taipei: Commercial Press, 1975. 761 p.

A list of Chinese works from all periods that have been translated into English. Entries are in 14 categories: bibliography, thought, religion, literature, science, agriculture, art, history, geography, education, society, economy, law, and military. For each title the translator, place of publication, publisher, date of publication, and pagination are given. There are three indexes, by title, author, and translator.

Wen‑yuan Pavilion S’su‑k’u Ch’uan‑shu chih nan. (A Guide to Wen‑yuan Pavilion S’su‑k’u Ch’uan‑shu.) Taipei: Commercial Press, 1988. 491 p.

“The S’su‑k’u Ch’uan‑shu, created by imperial order of the Ch’ien‑lung Emperor (1736‑1795) of the Ch’ing Dynasty, is the largest library of Chinese classical writings, valuable to all scholars of Chinese thought and culture. This guide was intended to facilitate the use of the great collection.”—Introduction. The volume has four parts: series index, author index, title index, and subject index.

Yearbooks

Republic of China: A Reference Book. Taipei: Hilit Publishing Co., Ltd., 1981‑ . Annual. In English. Formerly: China Yearbook (1957/1958‑1980), China Handbook (1946‑1956/1957).

“It is a compendium of detailed information on the R.O.C. It also contains capsulized information on China’s geography, history, and cultural heritage.”—Foreword. The material is arranged under 60 topics in 11 parts: general information, government system and operation, economy and finance, education, sports, cultural activities, social development, international relations, chronology, a who’s who, and appendixes. Included in the appendixes are important documents of the year, the constitution of Taiwan, a government directory, representatives abroad, a Chinese capsule history and dynastic table, China and the world, and lists of members of the National Assembly, the Legislative Yuan, and the Control Yuan. Its Chinese version is Ch’ung‑hua‑min‑kuo nienchien (Yearbook of the Republic of China), published annually since 1951 by Chung‑hua‑min‑kuo nien‑chien she.

Library Science

National Central Library. Chung‑hua‑min‑kuo t’u shu kuan nien chien. (Chinese Libraries Annual.) Taipei, 1981‑ . Irregular.

A compendium of varied information on libraries and library science. Principal contents of the 1988 edition are: the development of librarianship, a survey of the current library situation, library education, research studies in library science, library automation, library associations, a library chronology, international exchange arrangements, an annotated bibliography, an index to periodical articles, and laws and regulations related to libraries.

National Central Library. T’ai min ti ch’u t’u shu kuan tiao ch’a lu (1985). (Survey of Libraries in Taiwan and Fu‑chien in 1985.) Taipei, 1988. 443 p.

A directory of libraries in the Taiwan area and the province of Fu‑chien. Public, private, school, special, and university libraries are included. The first part provides data on staff, users, service area, collection, services, automation, budget, and management. The second part contains directories of libraries by category with addresses, phone numbers, names of director, and histories. An index by the names of libraries is included.

National Central Library. T’u shu kuan hsueh wen hsien mu lu. (Catalog of Documents on Library Science.) Taipei, 1986. 269 p.

A bibliography of documents (books, articles, and manuscripts) related to library science and bibliography issued from 1980 to 1988.

 II. Social Sciences

Union catalogs

National Central Library, Selection and Acquisition Department. T’ai wan kung t’sang jen wen chi she hui k’e hsueh hsi wen ch’i k’an lien ho mu lu. (Union Catalogue of Western Language Serials in Humanities and Social Sciences in the Republic of China.) Taipei: National Central Library, 1987. 1,192 p.

Information about 9,033 western language serials in humanities and social sciences in the libraries of 24 university, public, and research libraries in Taiwan.

Wang, Teh‑yi, editor. Chung‑hua‑min‑kuo t’ai wan ti ch’u kung ts’ang fang chih mu lu. (Union Catalogue of Chinese Gazetteers in Public Collections in Taiwan, R.O.C.) Taipei: Resource and Information Center for Chinese Studies, 1985. 315 p.

A catalog of Chinese geographic dictionaries and reference materials in major libraries in Taiwan; based on the 1956 edition which was published in the journal Hsueh‑chu chi kan, vol. 4 no. 4 to vol. 5 no. 3 (June, 1956 to March, 1957). In 1981 there was a revised edition with an additional 568 titles. The present edition contains more than 4,600 titles. It is arranged by the names of Chinese provinces.

Bibliographies

Huang, Ying‑kuei, chief editor. Kuang fu i lai t’ai wan ti ch’u ch’u pan jen lei hsueh lun chu mu lu. (Bibliography of Anthropological Works Published in Taiwan 1945‑1982.) Taipei: Ethnological Society of China and Resource & Information Center for Chinese Studies, 1983. 189 p.

A list of monographs, reprints, translations, reviews, theses, and dissertations arranged by categories then by the date of publication.

Commerce

China Credit Information Service, Ltd. Chung‑hua‑min‑kuo ta hsing chi yeh p’ai ming. (Taiwan Business Directory.) Taipei, 1978‑ . 4 vols. Biennial.

The former title in English was The Largest Corporations in the R.O.C. from 1971 to 1978. CCIS has been compiling and publishing directories since 1971 to provide information about large companies in Taiwan. Before 1978 the directory was revised annually, but it has since become biennial. Companies are ranked according to the net sales of their products. The 1990‑91 edition indexes about 35,000 firms. The directory is accessed through indexes by industry, product name, and product classification.

International Trade Association of the R.O.C. Directory of Exporters & Export Products of the Republic of China (1987‑1988). Taipei, 1988. 1,573 p.

Information on about 16,000 companies in 15 categories: 1) agriculture, fishery, livestock products and foodstuffs; 2) building materials and furniture; 3) chemicals, pharmaceutical, and optical products; 4) stationery and office equipment; 5) electrical and electronic; 6) handicraft and jewelry; 7) hardware, tool, and metal products; 8) housewares, kitchenware and sanitary products; 9) leather, plastic, and rubber products; 10) machinery; 11) sporting goods and outdoor equipment; 12) textiles and garments; 13) toys, souvenirs, and decorations; 14) transportation equipment; 15) miscellaneous. Each entry includes the firm name in both Chinese and English, address, telephone number (fax, telex, cable), name of a contact person, and products of the company.

Economics

Economic Daily News. Chung‑hua‑min‑kuo ching chi nien chien. (Economic Yearbook of the Republic of China.) Taipei, 1977‑ . Annual.

An annual report on economic development in Taiwan. The 1990 edition comprises 3 volumes: 1) 12 special themes of the year; 2) general economy; 3) manufacturing industries. There is a general article for each category of the general economy and the manufacturing sector. The appendixes provide international economic information.

Education

Hu, Ou‑lan. Chiao yu ts’an k’ao tzu liao hsuan ts’ui. (An Annotated Bibliography of Selected Educational Reference Works.) Taipei: Feng‑cheng Publishing Co., 1980. 440 p.

A list of 920 works on education, written in Chinese, English, and Japanese. Materials are arranged under the following headings: audio‑visual materials, guides, dictionaries, encyclopedias, bibliographies and catalogs, indexes and abstracts, biographical sources and directories, handbooks, yearbooks, and statistical sources, standards, laws, and periodicals. Appended are subject, author and title indexes in Chinese and English, and a bibliography.

National Taiwan Normal University Library. Chiao yu lun wen chai yao. (Educational Abstract to Periodical Literature.) Taipei, 1978‑ . Annual.

A continuation of Chiao yu lun wen so yin (Educational Index to Periodical Literature, 1963‑1977.) It indexes 160 periodicals, 12 newspapers and 2,152 dissertations and theses. There are two tables showing all the periodicals and newspapers indexed, an author index in English, an author/translator index in Chinese, and a subject index.

Geography

Cheng, Kuang‑yu, and Sheng‑mo Hsu, chief editors. Chung kuo li shih ti tu. (Historical Atlas of China.) Taipei: Chinese Culture University Press, 1980‑1984. 2 vols.

“It is hoped to be a valuable aid to the study of Chinese history and historical places not only for experts but also for the general public.”—Preface. The content is divided into seven parts: political maps, cities, industries, water conservancy and communication, people and the way of life, art and historical relics, and battles.

Cheng, Liang‑sheng, Wen‑hsing Wu, and Hsien‑hsiang Yeh‑Liu, compilers. Chung kuo li shih ti ming ta tz’u tien. (Dictionary of Names of Chinese Historical Places.) Taipei: San Tung Book Co., 1984. 6 vols.

An historical gazetteer of China, in two parts: 1) Mainland China (translated from the Japanese by Tseng ting chung kuo ti ming tz’u tien) and 2) Taiwan (materials gathered by the compilers). Entries are in order by the radical system, with a stroke count index. The last volume is a cumulative index.

Law

Chang, We‑jen. Chung kuo fa chih shu mu. (An Annotated Bibliography of Chinese Legal History.) Taipei: Academia Sinica, Institute of History and Philology, 1976. 3 vols.

An annotated bibliography of legal materials housed in 14 libraries in Taiwan.

Politics

Executive Yuan, Research, Development and Evaluation Commission. Chung‑hua‑min‑kuo cheng fu chu chih yu kung tso chienchieh. (Simple Guide to Chinese Governmental Agencies and Their Functions.) Taipei, 1988. 3rd ed. 372 p.

Similar to the United States Government Manual, this work provides detailed information on the agencies of central and local governments in Taiwan. A typical agency description includes a list of principal officials, a summary statement of the purpose of the agency, its role in the government, its legislative or executive authority, and descriptions of its programs, activities, publications, and services.

 III. History and Area Studies

Before we go on with a list of reference materials on history and area studies, here is a brief note on the Center for Chinese Studies. The Center was inaugurated in 1981 under the name of Resource and Information Center for Chinese Studies. Its goal was to elevate the status of Chinese Studies in the international research community. It publishes bibliographical tools and research monographs.

Bibliographies

Chao, Chug‑fu, editor. Chin tai tung pei ch’u yu yan chiu tzu liao mu lu. (Catalogue of Materials on the Modern History of Northeast China.) Taipei: Resource & Information Center for Chinese Studies and Institute of Modern History, Academia Sinica, 1984. 169 p.

Lists materials in Chinese, English, and Japanese, about history, geography, politics, society, economy, and foreign relations.

Liu, Chin‑kuo, editor. Kuo li chung yang t’u shu kuan t’ai wan fen kuan hsi wen t’ai wan tzu liao mu lu. (Catalogue of Materials in Western Languages Related to Taiwan in the Taiwan Branch Library, National Central Library.) Taipei: Taiwan Branch Library, National Central Library, 1976. 173 p.

A catalog of books, periodicals, pamphlets, and theses in foreign languages published prior to 1974. Entries are arranged alphabetically by author.

Lin, Ch’ing‑chang. Ching hsueh yan chiu lun chu mu lu. (Bibliography of Research on the Classics 1912‑1987.) Taipei: Resource and Information Center for Chinese Studies, 1989. 1,003 p.

A bibliography of about 14,200 books, periodical and newspaper articles, dissertations, essays, and other scholarly papers. The appendix includes an author index and a table of all sources consulted in preparing the bibliography.

Resource & Information Center for Chinese Studies. T’ai wan ti ch’u han hsueh lun chu hsuan mu hui pien pen. (Selected Bibliography of Chinese Studies in Taiwan, Cumulative, 1982‑1986.) Taipei, 1987. 552 p.

A list of monographs, articles, theses, and dissertations. This is the first five‑year cumulative edition of the annual bibliography issued since 1983. Covers history, people and society, religion, manners and customs, economics and finance, politics, law, education, foreign relations, classical studies, philosophy, science and technology, language, literature, art, entertainment, biography, and bibliography. There is an author index.

Biographies

Ch’ang, Pi‑te, Te‑yi Wang, and Yuan‑min Ch’eng, compilers. Sung jen chuan chi tzu liao so yin. (Index to Sung Biographical Materials.) Taipei: Ding Wen Book Co., 1974‑1976. 6 vols.

The principal guide to Sung biographies. Arranged by the number of strokes of Chinese names. Each entry includes a biographical sketch of the subject whenever there are sufficient sources, and citations of sources. The last volume is an index to courtesy names, sobriquets, and posthumous titles.

Editorial Board. Chung‑hua‑min‑kuo tang tai min jen lu. (Who’s Who in the Republic of China.) Taipei’ Chung‑hua Book Co. Ltd., 1978‑1985. 5 vols.

This work presents biographical materials and photographs of some 5,100 notable persons in or affiliated with Taiwan. Individuals are listed by category: political parties and government affairs, elective offices, scholarly and educational communities, science, technology, engineering, cultural affairs, business, and professions (lawyers, accountants, physicians, and architects). Within each classification, the entries are arranged by the number of strokes of surnames. The last volume is both a supplement and a general index to all volumes.

National Central Library. Chung‑kuo chin tai jen wu chuan chi tzu liao so yin. (Directory of Notable Chinese in Modern Times.) Taipei: Editing and Screening Committee of Chung‑hua Series, 1973. 430 p.

An index to biographical materials on notable persons who were influential from 1840 to 1969. Citations were collected from 50 periodicals.

Rachewiltz, Igor de, and May Wong. Repertory of Proper Names in Yuan Literary Sources. Taipei: Southern Materials Center, Inc., 1988. 3 vols. In English.

“Designed to complement, as well as to supplement the existing biographical indexes for the Yuan period...[and to serve as] a useful companion to the numerous indices to Chin, Sung, and Ming biographies available today .... [The Repertory provides basic information] on individuals, together with different names and places of origin (whenever available); ... separate indices for both Buddhist monks and Taoist priests; and appendices on Mongols and Non‑Han ... who knew Chinese, and on all Chinese who, according to the sources, knew Mongolian... The individual names are arranged in alphabetical order in the Wade‑Giles romanization. The rulers of the Chin, Sung, Yuan and Ming dynasties are excluded. The main body of the work is preceded by a Table of Titles, Authors and Editions, giving also the abbreviated titles, arranged by the number of strokes of the first character of the title, then in alphabetical order by the sound of the first character of the title. With a character index, following the order of the character in the Repertory.”—Introduction.

Wang, Te‑yi, Jung‑ts’un Li, and Po‑cheng P’an, editors. Yuan jen chuan chi tzu liao so yin. (Index to Biographical Materials of Yuan Figures.) Taipei: Shin Wen Fung Publishing Co., 1980‑1983. 5 vols.

For each entry there is a biographical sketch, then a list of references to the biographical sources. A special index to the various alternative names (such as courtesy name, sobriquets, posthumous titles, and studio names) used by and for Yuan personalities is included.

 IV. Humanities

Bibliographies

Ling, Scott K., editor. Bibliography of Chinese Humanities: 1941‑1972. Taipei: The Liberal Arts Press, 1975. 645 p. In English.

A cumulative bibliography of many multi‑volume works and periodical articles. Titles listed in several earlier bibliographies are included. 1) Cumulative Bibliography of Asian Studies, 1941‑1965, author bibliography, 4 vols.; 2) Cumulative Bibliography of Asian Studies, 19941‑1965, subject bibliography, 4 vols.; 3) Cumulative Bibliography of Asian Studies, 1966‑1970, author and subject bibliography, 6 vols. The work is arranged under nine categories: general, philosophy, religion, history, biography, geography, anthropology, art, and language. Books and periodical articles in English are included.

Yearbooks

Po‑yang, chief editor; Ying, Feng‑huang, executive editor. Chung‑hua‑min‑kuo wen hsueh nien chien (1980). (Chinese Literature Annual, 1980.) Taipei: China Time Cultural Publishing Co., 1982. 559 p.

Po‑yang is a well known author and compiler of Chung‑kuo wen i nen chien in 1966 and 1967. This is a review of literary activities in 1980. There are seven chapters: 1) general survey; 2) chronology; 3) literary activities; 4) prizes and awards in literature; 5) directory; 6) important publications; and 7) obituaries.

Architecture

Huang, Shih‑meng, chief editor. T’ai wan ti ch’u chien chu tzu liao wen hsien mu lu. (Architectural Bibliography in Taiwan.) Taipei: Construction and Planning Administration, Ministry of Interior, 1988. 411 p.

A union catalog of 29 libraries in Taiwan, including books and periodical articles. Materials are arranged under 16 categories. Each entry contains identification number, title, author, source, date of publication, and library holdings. The categories are: demonstration and tools, theory and method, architecture and urban planning, history, law, designs and applications, analysis, designs and repairs, materials, physics and environmental control, environmental limits and designs, scenery and architecture, planning and designs, interior designs, economic matters, architectural education, the profession, land use, and miscellaneous related fields.

Languages

Ta tz’u tien. (Grand Dictionary.) Taipei: San Min Book Co. Ltd., 1985. 3 vols.

This dictionary contains 15,106 characters and 127,403 phrases. Words are arranged by the radical system of the K’ung‑hsi tzu tien. Every character is given National Phonetic Symbols, Wade‑Giles romanization letters, and traditional Chinese sounds. The etymology, morphology, and sound of the characters are treated in detail.

 V. Science and Technology

Reference books in science and technology are flourishing. The National Science Council, founded in 1959, aims to promote scientific and technological research and development, and publishes many reference works.

Encyclopedias

Ta ying k’e chi pai k’e chuan shu (Illustrated Encyclopedia of Science and Technology) is a translation of Science and Technology Illustrated: The World Around Us. This translated work is the only science encyclopedia worthy of mention. This is one of the few weak areas of reference book publications in Taiwan.

Biographies

Li, Te‑chu, editor. Chung yao k’e chi wen hsien chih nan. (Guide to Important Scientific and Technological Documents.) Taipei: Yin‑ho Cultural Publishing Co., 1986. 2nd ed. 383 p.

identifies English‑language scientific abstracts and indexes held by the libraries in Taiwan. Entries are in five categories: 1) general; 2) chemistry, physics, and nuclear sciences; 3) agricultural and biological sciences; 4) engineering and technology; and 5) medical sciences. Each entry contains annotations and library holding notes. Appendixes offer a list of scientific data bases abroad, and bibliographies of reference works.

Indexes and Abstracts

National Science Council, Science and Technology Information Center. Chung‑hua‑min‑kuo k’e chi ch’i kan lun wen so yin. (Index to Scientific and Technological Journal Articles of the R.O.C.) Taipei, 1988‑ . Bimonthly.

The former title for this work was Index to Selected Science and Technical Articles in Chinese Periodicals (1974‑1981). A list of more than 350 titles of periodicals, monographs, and proceedings on medicine, agriculture, pure science, and technology. It includes articles in both Chinese and English. Available online through STICNET (Science and Technology Information Center Network).

National Science Council, Science and Technology Information Center. Chung‑hua‑min‑kuo k’e chi yan chiu pao kao chai yao. (Abstracts of Chinese Scientific and Technological Research.) Taipei, 1976‑ . Annual.

In 1977 and 1978 the work was entitled Hsing cheng yuan kuo chia k’e hsueh wei yuan hui chuan t’i yan chiu chai yao. It provides a collection of abstracts of government‑sponsored research and development reports on science and technology. An online version is available. The first part of the work contains abstracts of research reports in four categories: medicine, agriculture, pure science, and technology; then each entry is given a classification number according to the Library of Congress Schedule. Besides the abstract, each entry has an identification number, author, name of executive organization, name of research project, number of project, funds, deadline, and publication data. The second part contains indexes to authors, subjects, topics, executive organizations, and subsidiary organizations.

Union Catalogs

National Science Council, Science and Technology Information Center. K’e hsueh ch’i k’an lien ho mu lu. (Union List of Scientific Serials in Libraries of the Republic of China.) Taipei, 1970‑ . Annual.

Lists the serials in Western languages in science, technology, agriculture, and medicine. There are two versions to the 16th edition: a one‑volume set and a four‑volume set. The work is divided into four subject areas: science, technology, agriculture, and medical science. There are 17,726 classified title entries. Each entry includes a subject classification number, CODEN, ISSN, price, name of serial title, year of first publication, frequency, name and place of the publication, title changes and variations, participating organization code, and library holdings. With a title index.

Yearbooks

National Science Council. Chung‑hua‑min‑kuo k’e hsueh chi shu nien chien. (Chinese Science and Technology Annual.) Taipei, 1983‑ . Annual.

A reference work for policy makers. The contents varied during the first four years. The 1988 edition is divided into four chapters: 1) special report on computers; 2) history and future plans for science and technology in Taiwan and abroad; 3) education and research developments in science, technology, medicine, agriculture, humanities, and social sciences; and 4) government policies and support for science and technology (reports on grants and subsidies awarded). A directory of scientific and technological organizations and centers with telephone numbers is included.

Agriculture

Agricultural Science Information Center. Nung yeh k’e chi so yin tien. (Agrithesaurus.) Taipei, 1988. 988 p.

A thesaurus for agricultural and related sciences, with 20,115 entries arranged by National Phonetic Symbols, and indexes. Each descriptor is shown with its hierarchical structure and cross references.

Agricultural Science Information Center, compiler. T’ai wan nung yeh wen hsien so yin. (Index to Literature on Taiwan’s Agriculture.) Taipei: Agricultural Association of China, 1956‑ . Irregular.

Five volumes have been published to date:

The first four volumes were compiled by the Editorial Board of Literature on Taiwan’s Agriculture. All materials are from the Agricultural Science Information Center Library Automation System. The latest volume is mainly divided into 17 categories. Each document has an identification number, date of publication, author, title, and source.

Botany

Lien, Wen‑yen, compiler. Chung‑kuo pen ts’ao t’u lu. (Pictures of Chinese Medicine.) Taipei: Commercial Press, 1988. 10 vols.

The work represents 5,000 Chinese traditional medicines, derived from plants, animals, and minerals. Each entry includes ingredients, attributes, method of production, application, and distribution. Entries are arranged under the name of the family of the plants, animals, or minerals. All pictures are in color.

Kan, Woei‑song, editor. T’ai wan yao yung chih wu chih. (Manual of Medicinal Plants in Taiwan.) Taipei: National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, 1985. 3 vols.

Descriptions of 1,725 kinds of medicinal plants, with an index to scientific names.

Wong, Shiu Hon. Chinese Alchemical Terms: Guide‑book to the Daozang Pseudonyms. (Taipei: Student Book Co., 1989. 448 p. In English.)

“This guide‑book is based on nineteen important books on medicine as found in Daozang... The text is divided into three columns: ‘medicine’s name,’ ‘pseudonyms,’ and ‘sources.’ In the column of ‘medicine’s name’ one can find information in this order: the medicine’s name in Chinese, the han‑yu‑pin‑yin, the scientific name of the original plant, animal, or mineral in Latin, the name in English and the sources”—Introduction. An index by stroke number is provided.

Zoology

Shen, Shih‑chieh, editor. T’ai wan chin hai yu lei t’u chien. (Coastal Fishes of Taiwan.) Taipei: Taiwan Museum, 1984. 190 p.

“This book presents descriptions and illustrations of 1,051 species belonging to 153 families of coastal fishes of Taiwan and its adjacent islands. There are 1,622 color plates to illustrate the differences of color pattern changes with growth or sex. The geographical range covered includes the East China Sea and the northern part of the South China Sea.”—Foreword. With English and Chinese indexes.

 References

[1.] Tze‑chung Li, “A Quarter Century of Reference Books in the Republic of China,” International Library Review 6 (1974): 321‑339.

[2.] Republic of China Yearbook 1990‑91 (Taipei: Kwang Hwa, 1990), p. 446.

[3.] Cheng‑huang Lin, “An Overview of Book Publication in 1986 and 1987,” Chung‑hua‑min‑kuo ch’u‑pan nien chien [Publications Yearbook, Republic of China 1988] (Taipei: Lien‑ching Publishing Co., 1988), pp. 33‑38. (In Chinese.)

[4.] R.O.C., p. 446.

[5.] Chung‑hua‑min‑kuo ch’u‑pan nien chien [Publications Yearbook, Republic of China 1990] (Taipei: Lien‑ching Publishing Co., 1990), p. 42. (In Chinese.)

[6.] Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of China 1986 (Taipei: Directorate‑General of Budget, Accounting, and Statistics, Executive Yuan, 1986), p. 261.

[7.] The numbers for reference titles published from 1972 to 1988 in all the tables are estimates based on the reference collection in the National Central Library, Taipei Branch, Republic of China.

 About the Authors

Lin‑Yea Cheng is an Instructor in Library and Information Science in the World College of Journalism, Taipei. A native of Taiwan, she took a B.A. there at the Fu‑Jen Catholic University. In 1990 she earned an M.L.S. at Rosary College. She was a reference librarian in the National Central Library, Taipei, from 1983 to 1987.

Martha C. Leung is Library Media Specialist, Amherst Central High School, Buffalo, New York. For biographical information see TWL 2‑1.

Joyce Yung‑tzu Wu is Librarian of the Sinological Institute, University of Leiden, Netherlands. A native of Taiwan, she earned her bachelor’s degree there, at National Cheng Kung University. After 13 years as a librarian in Hong Kong, she came to the United States and took her master’s degree in library science at the State University of New York, Buffalo. She then served as Assistant Librarian at the University of Hong Kong until 1986, when she moved to the Netherlands. An article by her appeared in Newsletter for Research in Chinese Studies.

© 1992 Dominican University

Citation

Cheng, Lin‑Yea, Martha C. Leung and Joyce Y. Wu, “Recent Reference Books in Taiwan” Third World Libraries, Volume 3, Number 2 (Spring 1993).