Golden Script Common Dictionary

Author: Chen Chuosheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features:
Bronze inscriptions, known as Jīnwén, are an important aspect of ancient Chinese script and have long been valued by scholars. The compilation of studies on bronze inscriptions is vast, having long become an independent branch of paleography. The popularity of bronze inscription dictionaries is not accidental. Bronze inscriptions hold a significant position in ancient script due to the following characteristics: First, they span a long period. According to existing materials, inscriptions appeared on bronze vessels during the Erligang period of Shang culture, which is the early to mid-Shang Dynasty. Second, they exhibit great variability. Bronze inscriptions from different periods of the Shang and Zhou dynasties each have unique features. Third, they possess excellent calligraphy. Some ancient scripts, such as early oracle bone script, are carved rather than written, though they form a distinct style, the results of carving differ from those of brush writing. Flipping through this book, one can see the author's meticulous craftsmanship everywhere. The book includes approximately one thousand bronze inscriptions, covering most of the commonly recognized characters. Each character is presented in regular script at the top, accompanied by small seal script for easy reference; below each character, the modern and ancient pronunciations are noted, saving readers the effort of additional searches. The bronze inscriptions listed in the book cover various scripts from different periods, while also considering the evolution of their structures. Taking the character "Yuán" as an example, the author first cites the "Yuán" from the Fufei cup as the original form, then arranges bronze inscriptions from the Shang and Zhou dynasties, including those without a small horizontal stroke at the top, those with a small horizontal stroke, and those with a descending stroke and dot at the bottom; finally, two additional examples are provided to illustrate the "Yuán" character used as a decorative element. In the "Form Analysis" section, the author offers concise explanations for the above examples, while in the "Meaning Explanation" section, he cites examples from bronze inscriptions to illustrate the various meanings of the character "Yuán" in different inscriptions.