Edwin H. Mookini Library

Chinese Studies Research Guide

This page lists only subject-specific resources for Chinese / Chinese Studies. General information about searching for resources is available on the Guides page and in the options at the right (or at the bottom) of this page.

On this page:

Gate in the Nankai district in Tianjin, old city, Tianjin Jushilin

Photo by Ermell on Wikimedia Commons

Get Started

Before you get started, the first thing you need to do is validate your ID online. This allows you to use resources from off campus. You must select the link(s) for your campus! Why this is important...

Books

See the Find Books page for general information about finding books, including how to:

  • search LibCat
  • understand call numbers
  • locate books on the shelves
  • request books that are not immediately accessible

Library of Congress (LOC) Call Numbers

  • DS – History of Asia
    • DS701 - 799.9 – China
  • PL – Languages and literatures of Eastern Asia, Africa, Oceania
    • PL1001 - 3208 – Chinese Language and Literature
    • PL1001 - 1960 – Chinese Language
    • PL2250 - 3208 – Chinese Literature
      • PL2250 - 2443 – Chinese History and Criticism
      • PL2450 - 2659 – Chinese Collections
      • PL2661 - 2979 – Individual Authors and Works
      • PL3030 - 3208 – Provincial, Local, Colonial, etc.
    • PL3301 - 3311 – Non-Chinese Languages of China

Ebooks

You must select the link(s) for your campus! Why this is important...

  • Ebook Central: Academic and public library ebook collections, including some textbooks. UH Hilo | HawaiʻiCC
  • EBSCO Ebook Collection (Combined): Includes fiction and nonfiction titles for adults and juveniles. UH Hilo | HawaiʻiCC
    • Dictionaries found in EBSCO Ebook Collection
      • Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters: Learn 300 Chinese Characters and 1200 Chinese Words Through Interactive Activities and Exercises (Ideal for HSK + AP Exam Prep)
      • Continuing Mandarin Chinese Textbook: The Complete Language Course for Intermediate Learners
      • Mandarin Chinese Picture Dictionary: Learn 1,500 Key Chinese Words and Phrases (Perfect for AP and HSK Exam Prep; Includes Online Audio)

Journals

You must select the link(s) for your campus! Why this is important...

Be sure to check the publication and access years for each journal. Please note that more journals can be found in the “Find a Journal Title / Journal Search” function of LibCat.

Journal Article Databases

You must select the link(s) for your campus! Why this is important...

UH Hilo

Also be sure to search some of the General Databases and related Subject Area Databases:
UH Hilo General | UH Hilo Subject Area

  • NewsBank / Access World News (UH Hilo access)
    Comprehensive newspaper database of more than 8,500 news publications from the US and around the world. Over 31 Hawaiʻi news sources are included, the only access to these backfiles.
    • Beijing Review (2019 - Current)
    • China Daily (2001 - Current)
    • China Daily Hong Kong Edition (2014 - Current)
    • The China Post (Taiwan) (2013 - 2022)
    • Global Times (2009 - Current)
    • Macau Daily Times (2007 - Current)
    • South China Morning Post (1993 - Current)
    • Xinhua News Agency (1996 - Current)
  • Dissertations and Theses from ProQuest (Licensed for UH Hilo users only)
    Online access to full text of doctoral dissertations and graduate theses from universities around the world, including all campuses of the University of Hawaiʻi.
  • Funk & Wagnall's New World Encyclopedia (EBSCO) (UH Hilo access)
    Over 25,000 encyclopedic entries covering a variety of subject areas.
  • Google Scholar (UH Hilo access)
    Google search of scholarly articles, with a URL linker to Mookini Library databases enabled.
  • History Reference Center (EBSCO) (UH Hilo access)
    Full text from more than 1,620 reference books, encyclopedias and non-fiction books, cover to cover full text for more than 150 leading history periodicals, nearly 57,000 historical documents, more than 78,000 biographies of historical figures, more than 113,000 historical photos and maps, and more than 80 hours of historical video.
  • JSTOR (UH Hilo access)
    Access to select full-text academic journal articles, books, and primary sources in multiple disciplines. Archived journal coverage is from first issue of each title, but usually does not include current content. Spring 2025: some patrons have reported that JSTOR is very slow to display search pages and results - please be patient.
  • Literary Reference Center Plus (EBSCO) (UH Hilo access)
    Reference works and journals, mostly full text, covering all genres and time periods of literature.  Videos, book reviews, author biographies and interviews, study guides, literary criticism, and classic texts are included.

HawaiʻiCC

Also be sure to search some of the General Databases and related Subject Area Databases:
HawaiʻiCC General | HawaiʻiCC Subject Area

  • NewsBank / Access World News (Hawaiʻi CC access)
    Comprehensive newspaper database of more than 8,500 news publications from the US and around the world. Over 31 Hawaiʻi news sources are included, the only access to these backfiles.
    • Beijing Review (2019 - Current)
    • China Daily (2001 - Current)
    • China Daily Hong Kong Edition (2014 - Current)
    • The China Post (Taiwan) (2013 - 2022)
    • Global Times (2009 - Current)
    • Macau Daily Times (2007 - Current)
    • South China Morning Post (1993 - Current)
    • Xinhua News Agency (1996 - Current)
  • Funk & Wagnall's New World Encyclopedia (EBSCO) (Hawaiʻi CC access)
    Over 25,000 encyclopedic entries covering a variety of subject areas.
  • Google Scholar (Hawaiʻi CC access)
    Google search of scholarly articles, with a URL linker to Mookini Library databases enabled.
  • History Reference Center (EBSCO) (Hawaiʻi CC access)
    Full-text from more than 1,620 reference books, encyclopedias and non-fiction books, cove-rto-cover full text for more than 150 leading history periodicals, nearly 57,000 historical documents, more than 78,000 biographies of historical figures, more than 113,000 historical photos and maps, and more than 80 hours of historical video.
  • JSTOR (Hawaiʻi CC access)
    Access to select full-text academic journal articles, books, and primary sources in multiple disciplines. Archived journal coverage is from first issue of each title, but usually does not include current content. Spring 2025: some patrons have reported that JSTOR is very slow to display search pages and results - please be patient.
  • Literary Reference Center Plus (EBSCO) (Hawaiʻi CC access)
    Reference works and journals, mostly full text, covering all genres and time periods of literature.  Videos, book reviews, author biographies and interviews, study guides, literary criticism, and classic texts are included.

Free Online Resources

Databases

  • Center for Chinese Studies - “To promote open access to journal articles and to facilitate research, [the Center for Chinese Studies] offers free access to all its articles in many full-text databases, such as EBSCO: History Abstracts with Full Text, CEPS, TJFD, HyRead, CLISA, etc. All articles can also be accessed in the Full Text Database of CCS Publications for free search, download, and print.” Located in the National Central Library in Taiwan.
  • National Museum of Asian Art - Smithsonian collection of Chinese art, from seals and sculptures to paintings, this collection numbers in the thousands.

Dictionaries

  • MDBG - Online Chinese dictionary that offers flashcards, quizzes, text annotation, Chinese text input, and more.
  • Ninchanese - The free plan allows for over 10,000 vocabulary terms, a free dictionary and character decomposition, and over 100 grammar lessons.

Libraries

Hawaii State Public Library System

Hawaii State Public Library System - The only statewide library system in the United States with 51 locations across the state. Search online catalog for resources and materials found in the library system. A valid HSPLS library card is required to log in to request physical items and to access e-materials and databases.

Library of Congress

  • Digital Collections - This section of the guide introduces digital collections from the Asian Division as well as those containing Chinese or China-related items from other divisions of the Library of Congress.
  • Chinese E-Resources - Free databases and e-resources are freely accessible online. While this list is not exhaustive of all free resources, it highlights the breadth and depth of what is available today. Make sure to click on the “Free Databases and E-Resources” tab.

About the Mookini Library

The Edwin H. Mookini Library provides support services for both UH Hilo and Hawaiʻi Community College. We're located next to the UH Hilo Campus Center.

  • The library offers books in print and online formats, databases, journals, audio-visual materials, user education, and loanable technology.
  • Throughout the facility, students have access to computers (including a large computer lab), study carrels, and study rooms that can be reserved.
  • View the library’s hours.
  • Complete information on library services and policies can be found through the library’s home page.
  • Check our Help page if you need tutoring or librarian assistance.

Please visit or contact me for help using the library's resources or if you have questions about any of the material in this guide.