Chinese Cultural Resources at Cornell

As an institution, according to Ezra Cornell in 1868, “where any person can find instruction in any study,” Cornell has always celebrated the flow and exchange of people, ideas, and objects. These cross-border flows brought scholars to Cornell to study China and East Asia, along with Cornell’s first Chinese graduate, Sao-Ke Alfred Sze (Class of 1901).

Early campus collections of Chinese books and manuscripts, art, and material objects have grown and continue to represent tangible connections to China. They touch U.S. and international visitors, support education on campus, and have deeply influenced generations of researchers and scholars. Cornell has continuously offered Mandarin and other Chinese language courses since the 1870s, supporting mutual understanding and academic exchange.

Cornell University Library

The Cornell University Library's collections include one of the world’s most significant resources outside of Asia for the study of China and greater East Asia: the Charles W. Wason Collection on East Asia. The Wason collection was established in 1918 and now encompasses hundreds of thousands of volumes in Chinese and related languages. It is housed in the Kroch Library, which opened in 1992 to provide a new home for Cornell’s renowned Asia and rare and manuscript collections.

The collection includes rare books, archival materials, pamphlets, newspapers, and digital resources that trace Chinese history, culture, and society over centuries. It is used by researchers and students from around the world. The library also supports shared access to Chinese-language materials through collaborative digital platforms and joint collections developed with academic partners in China.

Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art

Designed by Chinese American architect I.M. Pei, the Johnson Museum of Art is home to Cornell’s collection of Chinese art, comprising more than 2,500 works, from ancient to contemporary. The collection’s holdings include ceramics, bronzes, jades, lacquerware, Buddhist sculpture, and paintings and calligraphy from the Yuan through Qing dynasties, as well as selected works by contemporary Chinese artists. The collections support education, research, and public engagement by highlighting China’s artistic traditions and cultural history for more than 80,000 visitors each year.

Chinese Language Study

The College of Arts and Sciences offers numerous Chinese language study options, including many levels of courses in Mandarin with content tailored for all language learners, students of Chinese heritage, and professional students. Some courses are offered in Beijing for students in the China and Asia-Pacific Studies program.