Abstract:

[Purpose/Significance] This paper traces the historical formation and intellectual lineage of Chinese bibliography, extracting its core iconic concepts and the knowledge system they constitute. By analyzing the opportunities and challenges confronting the discipline in the contemporary era, this study aims to provide theoretical support for constructing an autonomous knowledge system of Chinese bibliography that is both self-sustaining in its Chinese character and open to global academic exchange. This research is significant because it attempts to reposition traditional Chinese bibliographic scholarship within the modern academic landscape. It does this by bridging classical heritage with contemporary information science, and by responding to the urgent need for a distinctively Chinese theoretical voice in the global humanities. [Methods/Process] Through systematic synthesis and conceptual analysis, this study identified and examined a set of foundational iconic concepts in Chinese bibliography, including jiaochou (collation and textual criticism), qiushu (methods of seeking and recovering lost texts), jieti (explanatory titles and interpretive annotations), zhulu (cataloging and bibliographic recording), zhushi (commentary and exegesis), fenlei (classification systems and modalities), and leixu (categorical prefaces and taxonomic introductions). These concepts collectively form a distinct knowledge system that has evolved over centuries, reflecting the unique intellectual traditions of Chinese textual scholarship. Building upon this conceptual foundation, the paper investigates the developmental pathways of Chinese bibliography in the context of the digital intelligence era. [Results/Conclusions] To develop a world-class Chinese bibliography that embodies distinctive Chinese characteristics and achieves international excellence, a multi-dimensional strategy is required. First, efforts must be firmly grounded in the preservation and promotion of excellent traditional Chinese culture, drawing on the rich heritage of classical bibliographic scholarship while reinterpreting it for contemporary needs. Second, the discipline must adhere to Marxist scientific principles to ensure that theoretical development remains critically informed, historically aware, and socially relevant. Third, the social service function of Chinese bibliography should be strengthened, particularly in guiding nationwide reading initiatives, fostering public cultural literacy, and supporting lifelong learning in an increasingly digital society. Fourth, deepening international cultural exchanges and open cooperation is essential for mutual learning between Chinese and foreign bibliographic traditions, enabling Chinese bibliography to contribute actively to global conversations while maintaining its distinctive identity. Fifth, greater emphasis should be placed on practical applications in guiding bibliographic work within specialized fields, such as rare book cataloging, digital archives, library technical services, and the organization of born-digital resources. Sixth, technological transformations centered on digital resources must be actively advanced. Digital bibliography should seek breakthroughs from four aspects: standard development, technology application, integration of theory and practice, and service expansion. Efforts should focus on promoting the standardization of digital resource description, utilizing cutting-edge technologies to achieve intelligent organization and processing of resources, strengthening the construction of cataloging databases, and extending services to meet cultural needs, thereby realizing a smart transformation. Taken together, these integrated measures constitute a coherent roadmap for achieving the creative transformation and innovative development of Chinese bibliography in the new era. Ultimately, this study advocates for constructing an autonomous knowledge system that balances disciplinary independence with openness to global scholarship, thereby ensuring that Chinese bibliography continues to thrive as both a heritage discipline and a forward-looking field of inquiry.

Key words: Chinese bibliography, independent knowledge system, distinguishing academic disciplines and tracing their origins and evolution, the history of Chinese bibliography, the development of bibliography