Recently, the State Press and Publication Administration (former the State General Administration of Press and Publications, Radio, Film and Television, or SGAPPRFT) released the 2018 annual storage projects listed in the project library for reform and development of the press and publications sector. A project called the “Original ISLI-based Shan Hai Jing Media-development Project,” which was conducted by the Press Group of the Open University of China (OUC), was included on the list.

The “Original ISLI-based Shan Hai Jing Media-development Project” was planned and developed jointly by the OUC Press Group and Illusalon (Beijing) Cultural Media. The project applied the ISLI international standards to process the massive amounts of data contained in China’s ancient mythological treasure, the “Shan Hai Jing,” and establish a database for it that includes pictures, texts, audio and video files, among other media characterised as “tangible things.” On this basis, by relying on the existing education and data resources of the OUC and the Press Group, and using ISLI technology to realise the multiple potential applications of the “Shan Hai Jing” database, it plans to complete product development to include numerous original publications, online and offline art-education courses, and emerging media, as well as promote industry and cross-national cooperation in relation to the “Shan Hai Jing” in terms of publication, education and technology. The project is expected to be completed in June of 2021, and preparations are advancing in an orderly way.

The implementation of the project will show the enormous usefulness and strategic significance of the ISLI international standards established by China, provide guidance for the inheritance and development, modern application, and international communication of other classic works, and even demonstrate to the publishing industry how to merge multiple resources, guide “data standardisation and media development,” and become a model for the press and publications industry of applying the ISLI international standards, attaining cultural self-confidence, and exploring integration and development.
The project library for reform and development in the press and publications sector was launched by the former SGAPPRFT in 2010, an important move toward implementing the “National Cultural Industry Revitalisation Plan,” implementing the strategy of driving industrial development through major projects, and promoting the development and prosperity of the press and publications industry. The storage projects will be given priority in terms of support and funding from the national cultural special funds. As of now, nine Publications Media Group projects have been selected.

In the implementation process, the OUC Press Group will take part in organisation and supervision, improving the guarantee mechanism, strengthening quality and progress monitoring, and ensuring that the project will completed as scheduled to the expected standards.

By Bai Yan, OUC