Abstract: GIS technology is capable of storing and managing spatial data and displaying and analyzing spatial information, which is introduced into the construction of digitization of ancient books. It not only provides new perspectives and methods for the construction of digitization of ancient books, but also promotes the research of GIS technology in the field of humanities and social sciences. This paper designed and developed a Geographic Information System of Ming Dynasty Block-printing Books by using the technology of GIS to select the resources of ancient book engraving in Ming dynasty as objects. Based on ArcGIS Engine 9.3 platform, using C# language in Visual Studio 2010 environment based on the secondary development of GIS, it established the illustrious tag information database of ancient books in Ming dynasty to display the spatial distribution and temporal and spatial evolution of the basic situation, at the same time, to provide the Ming dynasty ancient illustrious tag information storage management, retrieval, query and statistical analysis, etc. From the perspective of geographical space, this system visualizes the distribution of ancient book carving in Ming dynasty and the spatial-temporal evolution of the book carving center, providing a new perspective and platform for the study of Bibliography of Ming Dynasty, the publishing history and social culture development of Ming dynasty.

Key words: Block-printing books of Ming dynasty, Geographic information system, Bibliography of Ming dynasty, Digitalization of ancient books, Digital humanities