‘China: The Fragrance of Books’, at Marsh’s Library, references an old Chinese saying: ‘The fragrance of books is the odour of knowledge.’ Chinese civilisation has fascinated Europeans since the first trade encounters took place in the Middle Ages and this exhibition presents China as seen through European books of the 16th and 17th centuries. Drawn from the collection of rare books and maps collected by Narcissus Marsh (1643-1713), the survival of these books in a small library in inner-city Dublin speaks to Ireland’s interest – then and now – in the wider world. The exhibition can also be viewed online.
China: The Fragrance of Books: until 30 December
