How was the ancient "book fair" held, and how was it different from modern times?

Reading has always been the favorite of the ancients, and communication between them is even more essential. Therefore, many scholars often hold reading parties. In activities, they often drink and write poems. This is the initial prototype of the ancient "book market". Of course, its scale and momentum cannot be compared with modern times, but it is also a grand event.

As for the form of the ancient "book fair", we can see some clues from the allusions of the ancient story "Qushui Flowing". According to historical records, one day in the ninth year of Zi Yong (A.D. 353), Wang Xizhi, an aristocrat and scholar in the Jin Dynasty, and a group of upper-class aristocrats and literati held an activity of drinking and writing poems in Lanting. At the banquet, Wang Xizhi and others held a sacrificial ceremony first, then sat on the floor on both sides of Qingxi River in Lanting, and put wine in the upper reaches of the stream. In this way, the wine will slowly descend along the upper reaches of the stream, cross the winding stream and finally stop in front of anyone, who can drink and improvise a poem. Finally, Wang Xizhi collected everyone's poems and wrote the famous Preface to Lanting Collection, which was also praised as "the best running script in the world" by later generations, and Wang Xizhi was also praised as "the poet saint" by later generations.

Compared with the ancients, the form of "book fair" is more about drinking and writing poems. After more than 20 years of development, the modern book fair has gradually evolved from a single book trading activity to an integrated cultural prosperity of publication exhibition, information exchange, industry discussion and advocating reading for all.

According to statistics, China has successfully held 20 book fairs so far, and each book fair has had a positive and profound impact on the local city, and has had a far-reaching impact on promoting urban economic development and social progress, leaving a deep and beautiful impression on the participants.