Asian collections
About the Asian collections
Systematic collecting began in the 1950s and covers a range of subjects, such as history, politics, current affairs, society and culture. Books, journals, government publications, magazines and newspapers are supplemented by full-text article databases, e-books, maps, archived websites and ephemeral materials.
The collections are strongest for the countries of East and Southeast Asia, and there are rich holdings of English language materials on Asia.
Formed Asian collections
The Library has acquired a number of important Western and Asian language formed collections from scholars and bibliophiles, including:
- Australian Buddhist Library Collection
- Braga Collection (Portuguese in Asia)
- Claasz Collection (Sri Lanka)
- Coedes Collection (Indo-China)
- Harold S. Williams Collection (Japan)
- London Missionary Society Collection (China)
- Luce Collection (Burma)
- Mauritius Collection (Mauritius & Indian Ocean)
- McLaren-Human Collection (Korea)
- Otley Beyer Collection (Philippines)
- Sakakibara Collection (Japan)
- Sang Ye Collection (China)
- Simon Collection (East Asia)
Highlights
Explore our Asian collections by viewing the highlights below:
- Da ban ruo bo luo mi duo jing大般若波羅蜜多經 – see the Library's earliest printed book, a 12th century printing of the Buddhist scriptures in Chinese
- London Missionary Society collection – gain an insight into the activities of missionaries in 19th century China
- Japanese woodblock print collection – view some of the colourful images from the Library's collection of 19th century Japanese prints
Learn more about our Asian collections
![Sepia photograph of a monastery with people stanidng on the balconies](https://www.library.gov.au/sites/default/files/styles/image_cards_dynamic/public/images/2024-09/collection-photo-king-theebaws-monastery-whyte-nla-obj-151519086.jpg?h=059240ae&itok=uctbztUo)
Adam Whyte, King Theebaw's monastery, Fort Mandalay, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-151519086
![A black and white photograph of Khmer Temple gate surrounded by trees](https://www.library.gov.au/sites/default/files/styles/image_cards_dynamic/public/images/2024-10/collection-photo-angkor-thom-coffin-nla-obj-140374407.jpg?h=3f063357&itok=P5Of5CKv)
Yves Coffin, [Northern gates of Angkor Thom, view from the south], nla.gov.au/nla.obj-140374407
![Dancers wearing tradition lion costume performing for Chinese New Year. There are two lions, one red and one yellow, with two people in each costume. Behind them stand spectators and a drummer](https://www.library.gov.au/sites/default/files/styles/image_cards_dynamic/public/images/2024-08/collection-chinese-new-year-lion-dance-jiayuan-liang-nla-obj-3125334254.jpg?h=c75e8d8a&itok=a7HyGWJc)
Jiayuan Liang, Chung Yee Tong Lion Dance Team performing lion dances, Chinese New Year, Chinatown, Adelaide, 2022, nla.obj-3125334254
![Japanese woodblock print shows a western woman holding the reins of a horse.](https://www.library.gov.au/sites/default/files/styles/image_cards_dynamic/public/images/2024-10/digital-classroom-japan-woman-horse-nla.obj-151442463-1.jpg?h=911f3ea2&itok=UD4CSr4P)
Yoshikazu Utagawa & 歌川芳員, Gokakoku no uchi Igirisu nyonin, 1860, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-151442463
![Three Buddhist Monks in orange robes sitting around a large spread of food in a temple](https://www.library.gov.au/sites/default/files/styles/image_cards_dynamic/public/images/2024-09/collection-photo-buddhist-monks-feast-thai-temple-orford-2004-nla-obj-137018135.jpeg?h=6ba433e9&itok=2-SgBLgZ)
June Orford, Buddhist Monks feasting during celebrations for the beginning of the Rains Retreat at the Thai Buddhist Temple in Box Hill, Victoria, 1 August 2004, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-137018135