Chinese Text Project

API

Open-access API for pre-modern Chinese texts from the Chinese Text Project

Overview

The Chinese Text Project API provides programmatic access to its vast open-access collection of pre-modern Chinese texts, including classics, histories, philosophical works, and literary texts. Key endpoints enable retrieval of full texts, specific passages, character definitions, and bibliographic metadata. Responses are formatted in JSON for seamless integration into applications. Use cases include academic research (digital humanities, sinology), educational tools (classical Chinese learning apps), and cultural preservation projects that require access to authentic pre-modern Chinese textual resources.

Example Integration (JavaScript)

script.js JS


fetch('https://ctext.org/tools/api')
  .then(res => res.json())
  .then(data => console.log(data))
  .catch(err => console.error(err));

Key Features

RESTful interface
JSON response format
Open-access to pre-modern Chinese texts
No API key required (non-commercial use)
Text retrieval & bibliographic metadata endpoints

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is the Chinese Text Project API free to use?

Yes, it is free for non-commercial purposes like academic research and education.

? Does the API require an API key?

No, an API key is not needed for access, but users must comply with the project's terms of service.

? What response format does the API use?

The API primarily returns data in JSON format, which is easy to parse and integrate into applications.

Top Alternatives

Digital Dictionary of Ancient Chinese (DDAC) API Search Google

Tool Info

Pricing Free

Category Dictionaries

Platform Public API

Pros

⊕ Extensive pre-modern text collection
⊕ Free non-commercial access
⊕ Easy integration with apps
⊕ Valuable for sinology research

Cons

⊖ Limited to pre-modern texts
⊖ Potential rate limits for heavy usage
⊖ No SLA for commercial use
⊖ Requires familiarity with classical Chinese terms