Etymology (II)

Author: Commercial Press Editorial Department
Publisher:
Publishing Date: August 1, 1979
Features: The compilation of Ci Yuan (Comprehensive Dictionary of Chinese Characters) began in 1908 (34th year of the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty). It was published in five editions—Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, and Wu—in 1915. In 1931, Ci Yuan Supplement was published, and in 1939, the Comprehensive Edition of Ci Yuan was released. In 1949, the Concise Edition of Ci Yuan was published. Ci Yuan was based on existing character dictionaries, rhyming dictionaries, and classified compendiums, while incorporating the characteristics of modern glossaries. It primarily focused on lexical terms, supplemented by encyclopedic content, emphasized common usage with practicality, and combined textual evidence to trace origins. This was one of the largest-scale modern Chinese linguistic and lexical dictionaries in China.