By Moiya Sullivan

BEIJING — They were the ghosts of literary history, six forgotten friends of Miguel de Cervantes, the man who gave the world Don Quixote. Their names were mere footnotes, their voices silenced for four centuries.

Until now.

On a crisp July morning in Beijing’s Green Hall, the National Library of China — Asia’s largest and most prestigious repository of human knowledge- formally accepted three anthologies that bring these lost voices back to life.

The ceremony, held under the poetic lema “In friendship and peace, all things bloom, abound, and multiply,” was more than a simple book donation. It was a resurrection.

A Dream Four Centuries in the Making

The anthologies, compiled by Polish-born scholar Prof. Krzysztof Sliwa, recently crowned “El Quijote del Año” 2025, rescue from oblivion the writings of six military men and writers who shared Cervantes’ deepest longing: to cross the Atlantic and plant Spanish roots in the Americas.

Three anthologies that rescue the forgotten voices of Cervantes’ companions are now in the permanent collection of the National Library of China. A bridge between cultures, centuries, and continents. (1) Anthology of Poetry from the Discovery, Conquest, and Colonial Eras (Antología de la Poesía del Descubrimiento, la Conquista y la Colonia), ISBN 9789917620112. (2) Anthology of Prose from the Discovery, Conquest, and Colonial Eras (Antología de la Prosa del Descubrimiento, la Conquista y la Colonia), ISBN 9789917620129. (3) Anthology of Theater from the Discovery, Conquest, and Colonial Eras (Antología del Teatro del Descubrimiento, la Conquista y la Colonia), ISBN 9789917620136

But here’s the twist: Cervantes also dreamed of China.

In the early 17th century, the legendary author was reportedly invited by the Ming Emperor Shenzong to open a Spanish-language school in Shanghai. Showing us that the man who gave the world’s most-read novel after the Bible looked East.

On July 14, 2026, that dream came full circle in the heart of Beijing, where Cervantes’ companions now stand shoulder to shoulder with China’s greatest literary treasures.

A Ceremony of Bridges

The event brought together diplomats, scholars, and cultural ambassadors from across continents, some in person at the National Library of China in Beijing, others joining online from across the Americas and beyond.

From Beijing to the Americas, across oceans and time zones, voices united in friendship and peace. Online and in person, we gathered to honor the past and build bridges for the future.

 

Mr. Zhang Xu, Director of the National Library’s International Affairs Office, opened the proceedings with a warm welcome in person. He emphasized the significance of the donation for cultural exchange between China and the Spanish-speaking world, highlighting the National Library’s commitment to preserving and disseminating the heritage of human civilization.

Mr. Roberto Chambi Quique, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Bolivia, delivered a stirring speech of congratulations on behalf of the Bolivian people and government. He called the donation “a symbol of the friendship between Bolivia and China” and emphasized that culture builds bridges that politics alone cannot. He reaffirmed Bolivia’s commitment to continued collaboration in publishing and cultural exchange.

Prof. Marco A. Cabero Z. , Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Latin American Sciences and Culture and Chairman of Andean Road Countries for Science and Technology (ARCST), spoke in person, unveiling a vision far beyond these three books, a roadmap to publish more works bridging East and West in green science, art, culture, and sustainability. “Knowledge knows no borders,” he said, “and the great challenges of our time demand solutions drawn from all civilizations, all wisdoms, all voices.”

Ms. Ding Lan, founder of Lovenature, moved the room in person with her account of a recent expedition at 4,700 meters on the Tibetan Plateau — where her team searched in vain for the elusive “jellyfish snow rabbit,” a plant that blooms only once in six to eight years. She drew a powerful parallel: just as the jellyfish snow rabbit — now critically endangered due to over-harvesting and facing the threat of extinction — could leave a shrinking gap in the alpine ecosystem, forgotten manuscripts, when lost, leave a void in our cultural memory. The potential extinction of a species and the loss of a book are two faces of the same tragedy: the irreversible disappearance of something irreplaceable. “These anthologies,” she said, “are not just books. They are seeds —seeds of knowledge we must protect, cultivate, and pass on.”

Prof. Krzysztof Sliwa, joining online from the Americas, shared the remarkable story of Cervantes’ invitation by the Ming Emperor Shenzong to open a Spanish-language school in Shanghai. He expressed profound gratitude that his three anthologies — the result of decades of research — would now be preserved in the National Library of China. “The dialogue between civilizations,” he said, “is not a luxury. It is a necessity.”

Prof. Jorge Ruiz de la Quintana, National Director of Research at UNIVALLE joined online from Bolivia. He emphasized research as a bridge between civilizations, calling the anthologies “threads of connection” that unite us across time and space, and reaffirmed UNIVALLE’s commitment to publishing works that bridge East and West in green science, sustainability, art, and culture.

Prof. Yelka Aguilera Santos, Science Engagement and Public Communication Officer at JLASC and representative of UNIVALLE, also joined online. She highlighted the importance of making knowledge accessible, fostering dialogue across disciplines and borders, and embodying the mission of science engagement. She expressed pride that UNIVALLE and JLASC are contributing to the National Library of China’s collection and reaffirmed the commitment to future publications that bridge the knowledge gap between East and West.

Mrs. Song Renxia, representative of the Foreign Language Publications Acquisitions and Cataloguing Department, delivered the closing remarks in person, expressing gratitude to all participants and reaffirming the National Library’s commitment to protecting and utilizing the donated works. She emphasized that the library will continue to serve as a bridge for cultural exchange between China and the world.

What’s Inside These Volumes?

The three anthologies are not dusty academic tomes. They are a literary treasure chest, containing:

• Poetry, prose, and theater from the Discovery, Conquest, and Colonial periods of Ibero-America.
• Works by 45 Ibero-American writers, including six friends of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra.
• Never-before-published texts rescued from historical archives by Prof. Sliwa — the result of decades of research that also produced his monumental, 2,000‑page biography of Cervantes.

A gesture of friendship and culture: the formal handover of the Cervantes anthologies from JLASC, ARCST, and UNIVALLE to the National Library of China. A bridge between continents, now sealed in ink and paper

 

Not the End — Just the Beginning

The message from every speaker was clear: this is not a conclusion, but a launchpad.

“We plan to publish more books,” said Prof. Cabero, “in the natural sciences, social sciences, green science, art, culture, and sustainability — to bridge the knowledge gap between East and West.”

Prof. Sliwa echoed the sentiment: “The dialogue between civilizations is not a luxury. It is a necessity.”

A Permanent Home in the “Celestial Empire”

The National Library of China, home to over 37 million items, is no stranger to great works. But these anthologies are unique: they are the first publication to bring together the voices of Cervantes’ inner circle and his Chinese dream.

 

A moment of recognition and gratitude: representatives from JLASC, ARCST, UNIVALLE, and Lovanature receive the official donation certificates from the National Library of China. A testament to the power of international collaboration in preserving our shared literary heritage.

As the donation certificate was formally presented, one could almost imagine Cervantes himself — the “Manco de Lepanto” — smiling across the centuries.

The faces behind a historic donation. In‑person representatives from the National Library of China, UNIVALLE, JLASC, ARCST, and Lovanature, partners in bridging cultures, continents, and centuries.

The lema says it all:

“In friendship and peace, all things bloom, abound, and multiply.”

On this day, in Beijing, they did.

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