明代南京的書籍市場

A Study on the Book Market of Nanjing in Ming Dynasty

明代南京是一個集合了全國政治、經濟、文化與交通四大中心的超級城市，各行各業十分發達，且居住著大量具備高度文化、教育與經濟水準的市民。同時，明代的南京也聚集了來自四面八方的作家、書商和技術一流的刻工，成為提供圖書市場貨源不絕的生力軍。加上中央政策的鼓勵和四通八達的聯外交通，遂使本地圖書事業不斷成長活絡。明代南京除了是最重要的刻書中心外，也是數一數二的書籍市場，經營販售著來自全國各地的各類圖書，並採群集式的市場體制。當時南京的書坊主要分布於三山街附近，以及國子監前面，也有少數分散於各巷道內的零星書鋪。由於群集式經營的成功，明朝南京書市馳名天下，舉凡嗜癖典籍者，莫不造訪，成為各類型藏書事業圖書徵集的主要來源地。

In Ming Dynasty, the Nanjing city was functioning as a hub city of politics, economics, culture, and transportation of the nation. Such great environment not only enabled the development of various kinds of business, but also attracted citizens of higher literacy and education with comparatively better financial background to reside here. Hence, the city became a marketplace for writers, publishers, and book-press engraving technicians. All of them unitedly became the important support of the book business of the time. In addition, thanks to the support from the central government and the very convenient transportation, Nanjing became a very important area for book-press engraving profession and for book dealers. The book dealers form a big book stores cluster, selling books from all over the country. While most book dealers were located around the San-Shan Street and in front of the Imperial College, there were also some book stores scattered within narrower alleys. Due to the efficiency of shopping at the clustered book stores, the book market of Nanjing earned quite good fame and attracted many book lovers to come to visit. Consequently, the book market of Nanjing was recognized as the very important place to visit for book acquisition of all types or works.