▲Compilation of Yongle Encyclopedia · 1403 CE - 1408 CE
📜
Cause & Context
To demonstrate imperial cultural legitimacy and preserve China's intellectual heritage, the Yongle Emperor ordered the encyclopedic compilation of all existing Chinese literature.
⚔️
Epochal Overview
Under editors and Xie Jin, over 2,000 scholars spent five years compiling 22,877 volumes containing 370 million characters, encompassing astronomy, geography, medicine, arts, and religion.
🌟
Civilizational Impact
Praised by the *Encyclopaedia Britannica* as the largest encyclopedia in human history, the *Yongle Dadian* preserved thousands of rare classical texts from destruction.
👤
Key Figures
The Yongle Emperor () patronized the massive undertaking organized by Grand Secretary Xie Jin and Buddhist chancellor .