Yongle Encyclopedia

The Yongle Encyclopedia is a massive Chinese reference work compiled during the Ming Dynasty in the early 15th century under Emperor Yongle. It comprised around 22,000 scrolls and covered topics like history, science, philosophy, and literature, making it one of the largest and most comprehensive encyclopedias of its time. Designed to preserve Chinese knowledge and promote cultural unity, it reflected the breadth of Chinese scholarly work. Although most of it was lost over centuries due to war and deterioration, some portions remain, highlighting its historical importance as a vast repository of Chinese intellectual achievement.