The China Culture Research Society held a press conference on Wednesday to launch a new project - "The History of Chinese Civilization, Online Chronicle" - that is designed to be editable by any interested individual. The database, unfortunately named "China Can" (the Chinese name 中国桶 "China barrel", is a play on 中国通, "China expert"), is expected to hold 50 gigabytes of text along with 35 million multi-media documents. Initial funding is projected at 2 billion RMB (240 million USD), to be shared between government and private business.

The overarching goal of China Can is, in the words of Society president Lu Jun, to "let every Chinese citizen understand civilization." In practical terms, this means harnessing the size and scope of the Internet to create a digital record of the entirety of Chinese civilization, including historical and cultural relics and images. Lu Jun says: "This project will include everything. It will be like a barrel; all of the materials will be put into the barrel, and outside of the barrel there will be nothing."

Journalists at the press conference questioned the feasibility of this project, and The Beijing News punctuates the headline of its article with a question mark. Lu Jun admits that China Can will not be completed instantaneously; it may take up to a century to digitize everything.

Organized in chronicle form with entries ordered by date, the database follows the pattern set down in ancient Chinese histories like the Spring and Autumn Annals. Project guidelines, which are practically the only data currently present on the project's website, prescribe year, month, and day as the three levels for organizing "everything that existed or happened in Chinese history" since the late Neolithic period.

The project aims to strike a balance between research and development. The "research arm" will amass data and serve as a resource for scholars. The "development arm," according to the press conference presentation, will attempt to make money off the amassed historical data by reprinting historical materials, producing historical cartoons, planning historical tours, exhibiting folk arts, appraising and dealing in antiques, and selling imitations.

Individuals are encouraged to apply to become contributors to the online chronicle. Xinhua quotes Lu Jun:

"The operation will be similar to the Wikipedia...Historical study is not just a matter for specialized experts," Lu said, noting that anyone can provide his or her knowledge on Chinese history and paste it on the net, as well as publish his own research results and opinions.

Well, at least up through the end of the Qing dynasty in 1911 (according to the press conference) or through the revolution in 1949 (according to the project's website). The history of the People's Republic evidently remains a matter reserved for specialized experts.