Irene Eng The Kibbitzer

1321 Xinzha Lu (near the North Shanxi Lu 新闸路１３２１号 - 陕西北路口) is located in Jingan area in Shanghai.  This octagon two-story building Xiaoxiao Jingge 小校经阁 was part of the compound where my maternal grandma grew up, and housed very important collections of books (500 cartons of rare ancient thread-bound), tortoise shells (?) - 甲骨龟片 (28,000 pcs), ancient inks, weapons, sacrificial vessels in hundreds, paintings, porcelains, snuffers …  It’s the largest and ultimate private library/collection in the 20th century Shanghai, dismantled in 1950s, after Mao liberated China.  The other day I passed by the JP Morgan Library on Madison at 36 Street.  It’s from a private collection too, made a public institution in 1924.  Nostalgia aside, the feeling was very profound to just think China has 5,000 years of history and USA a mere 200, the fate of the two collections couldn’t be more drastic.

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