Si Ku Quan Shu (also known as Complete Library in the Four Branches of Literature) was compiled in four sections, namely Jing (Confucian classics), Shi (historical records), Zi (philosophical writings) and Ji (miscellaneous works) over 13 years under the auspices of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty.
The collection contains over 3,500 tomes in 79,000 volumes, 36,000 books, and around 800 million characters. Upon completion, Emperor Qianlong commanded seven handwritten duplications, which were then stored in different locations across China.
The first four duplications were kept in four chambers in the north, namely Wenyuan Chamber in the Forbidden City, Wensu Chamber in Shenyang of Liaoning province, Wenyuan Chamber in the Yuanmingyuan Imperial Garden, and Wenjin Chamber in Chengde of Hebei province, while the next three duplications were sent to Wenhui Chamber in Yangzhou city, Wenzong Chamber in Zhenjiang city, and Wenlan Chamber in Hangzhou city, collectively known as the three chambers in the south.
The collection by Wensu Chamber, one the four chambers in the north, was previously kept in the Shenyang Imperial Palace in Liaoning province. It was transferred to Gansu province in 1996 and managed by Gansu Provincial Library. Initially the collection was stored in the Main Assembly Hall of the chieftain yamen (government office in feudal China) in Liancheng township of Yongdeng county, and later moved to the Gancaodian Storehouse specially built for this purpose in 1971.
On December 2, 2000, the 19th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 9th Provincial People's Congress of Gansu passed the Provisions on Further Strengthening Protection of Si Ku Quan Shu Collection in Wensu Chamber, which clarified the legal status of Si Ku Quan ShuCollection in the province's culture building work. On December 28, 2001, Storehouse of Si Ku Quan Shu Collection by Wensu Chamber, a project included in the 10th Five-Year Plan of Gansu province and a landmark cultural building project of the province, broke ground in Jiuzhou Terrace in North Mountain of Lanzhou city.
