A monumental 127-volume encyclopedia, the *Tushu Bian* (Compendium of Illustrations and Texts), offers a unique glimpse into how Chinese scholars understood the world in the early 17th century. Compiled by Neo-Confucian scholar Zhang Huang and published in 1613, the work meticulously documented concepts relating to heaven, Earth, and humanity. Zhang Huang drew upon over 200 printed sources, accumulating knowledge over decades to create a comprehensive resource. The *Tushu Bian* represents a significant effort to map human knowledge from a distinctly Chinese perspective, predating modern digital encyclopedias. This undertaking highlights the rich intellectual tradition and scholarly pursuits of the Ming dynasty. The encyclopedia serves as a valuable tool for understanding the philosophical and scientific frameworks of the time. It demonstrates a sophisticated system of categorization and a broad scope of intellectual inquiry.