Chinese Text Project — Free Ancient Chinese Text API (No Key)

TL;DR

The Chinese Text Project (ctext.org) API provides machine-readable access to the largest online repository of pre-modern Chinese texts. Retrieve full chapters from classics like the Analects (論語), Dao De Jing (道德經), I Ching (易經), historical records, medical texts, and philosophical works. Search by text name, passage keyword, or chapter number. Responses in JSON format with both original Chinese and English translations where available. No API key. Invaluable for sinologists, philosophy students, and historical researchers.

Quick start: https://api.ctext.org/retrieve/23215?format=json

No API key needed — just make a request!

How to Use This API

1. Retrieve a Text by ID

https://api.ctext.org/retrieve/23215?format=json

2. Search the Text Corpus

https://api.ctext.org/search?query=仁&format=json

3. JavaScript — Get a Confucius Chapter

fetch('https://api.ctext.org/retrieve/23215?format=json')
  .then(r => r.json())
  .then(data => {
    console.log(`Title: ${data.title}`);
    console.log(`Source: ${data.source}`);
    console.log(`Paragraphs: ${data.paragraphs.length}`);
    data.paragraphs.slice(0, 3).forEach((p, i) => {
      console.log(`\nParagraph ${i+1}:`);
      console.log(p.text);
    });
  });

4. Python — Compare Translations

import requests

# Get chapter 1 of the Analects
data = requests.get(
    'https://api.ctext.org/retrieve/23215?format=json'
).json()

print(f"{data['title']} — {data['source']}\n")
for p in data['paragraphs'][:5]:
    chinese = p.get('text', '')
    english = p.get('translation', '')
    if chinese:
        print(f"中: {chinese}")
    if english:
        print(f"EN: {english}")
    print()

Retrieve text 23215: https://api.ctext.org/retrieve/23215?format=json

Try This URL Now

Frequently Asked Questions

What texts are available?: Confucian classics (Four Books, Five Classics), Daoist texts (Laozi, Zhuangzi), historical records (Shiji, Zizhi Tongjian), medical texts (Huangdi Neijing), and hundreds of other pre-1911 Chinese works.
How do I find text IDs?: Browse ctext.org to find the text you need. The text ID appears in the URL. You can also use the search API to find texts by keyword.
Are English translations included?: Many major texts include English translations alongside the original Chinese. Translation availability varies by text. Check the translation field in responses.
What format does the API use?: JSON format with format=json parameter. The API also supports XML. Responses include text metadata, chapter/paragraph structure, and annotations.
Can I search within texts?: Yes, the search API (/search?query=) searches across the entire corpus and returns matching passages with context. Supports Chinese characters and pinyin.
Are there usage guidelines?: The Chinese Text Project is an academic resource. Reasonable automated access is permitted for research and educational purposes. Cite appropriately.

API Details

API URL: https://api.ctext.org
Documentation: ctext.org/api
Category: Books
Authentication: Not Required
Geographic Coverage: Global (Pre-modern Chinese texts)

What You Can Build

Classical Chinese philosophy reader with side-by-side original and translation
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Character frequency analyzer for Classical Chinese vocabulary building