Dictionary of Idioms: Origins and Development

Author: Liu Jiexiu
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-06-01
Features: The "Dictionary of Idioms: Origins and Development" has become another gem in the field of idiomatic dictionaries due to its rich materials, thorough research, and precise definitions. The dictionary was refined over decades of compilation, drawing examples from thousands of ancient classics and incorporating recent research in Chinese studies, especially in the field of idioms. Its significance is praised by Mr. Ji Xianlin in the preface of the book: "Exploring the depths and illuminating the subtle, its contribution is immense to scholars." Tracing the origins of idioms is a crucial task for researchers. Editors and authors of works like "Ci Yuan" and "The Great Chinese Dictionary" have made efforts in this regard, but many idioms still lack clear or accurate origins, or even have none at all. The "Dictionary of Idioms: Origins and Development" has made significant contributions in this area. For example, the idiom "fù tāng dǎo huǒ" (to plunge into boiling water and brave fire), "Ci Yuan" cites "The Biography of Chao Cuo in the Book of Han" as its origin: "Therefore, he could make his troops endure arrows and stones, plunge into boiling water and fire, and treat death as life." The "Great Chinese Dictionary" only provides examples as early as the annotation to "The Biography of Liu Bei in the Wei Dynasty" from the "Records of the Three Kingdoms," quoting "Fu Hanzi": "Now, the appointment is entrusted to you, General, even if you plunge into boiling water and brave fire, you will not hesitate to die." The "Dictionary of Idioms: Origins and Development," however, argues that the original source of "fù tāng dǎo huǒ" is the phrase "fú shuǐ huǒ ér sǐ yǒu bù kě shèng shù" in "Mozi: Benevolence Below," citing "The External Transmission of the Han School of Poetry" as another source. This pushes the origin of the idiom much further back, and both in meaning and form, it is well-founded. The of the evolution of idioms is another key feature of the "Dictionary of Idioms: Origins and Development," filling a gap in the field of lexicography. This work not only enriches the forms of idioms but also provides a clear understanding of their historical trajectory. For example, the idiom "píng yì jìn rén" was originally written as "píng yì jìn mín," with examples from "The World of Lu Zhou Gong in the Records of the Grand Historian" and "Zhu Zi's Discourses." During the Tang Dynasty, it was changed to "píng yì jìn rén" to avoid the taboo name of Emperor Taizong Li Shimin. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, variations such as "píng yì jìn wù," "hé yì jìn rén," "lè yì jìn rén," and "píng yì jìn qíng" also appeared. This shows the influence of taboo avoidance in feudal society on language and the evolution of an idiom across different historical periods. The "Dictionary of Idioms: Origins and Development" not only examines the various forms of idioms during their evolution but also their abridged and extended forms. For example, the entry for "pāo zhuān yǐn yù" lists its abridged forms such as "pāo zhuān," "zhuān yǐn," "zhuān pāo," and "yǐn yù"; for "páng qiāo cè jī," it includes the extended entry "páng qiāo zhèng jī." Based on its research into the origins of idioms, the "Dictionary of Idioms: Origins and Development" offers numerous new insights into the meanings of idioms, further enriching their semantic content. For example, the idiom "huǎng ruò gé shì" is generally explained as "often expressing regret over significant changes in people or scenery." However, this dictionary points out that the ancient usage of this idiom also had another meaning: "describing a beautiful realm that is captivating, as if the world had changed," citing examples from Yuan Hongdao and others, which are very convincing. When explaining the meanings of idioms, the "Dictionary of Idioms: Origins and Development" appropriately uses ancient annotations, making the understanding of their original meanings more accurate. For example, regarding "kōng xué lái fēng," the dictionary argues that it originates from "Zhuangzi: 'kōng mén lái fēng, tóng rǔ zhì cháo'," citing Sima Biao's annotation: "When doors are empty, the wind delights to enter; the seeds of tung trees resemble milk, growing on leaves, and birds love to nest there." This shows that the original meaning of this idiom is "things happen for a reason." Some modern dictionaries explain "kōng xué lái fēng" as "things happen without reason," which lacks basis. The "Dictionary of Idioms: Origins and Development" is very rigorous in its use of research materials and adheres to academic standards. Since this book focuses on tracing origins, it places great importance on the originality and authenticity of the materials. For example, for the idiom "jié zé ér yú," after citing examples from "The Meanings and Rewards in the Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals," it lists sources such as "The in Wenzi," "The in Wenzi," "The Basic Principles in the Huainanzi," "The Methods of Governance in the Huainanzi," and "The Human Realm in the Huainanzi." For its sub-entry "gān zé ér yú," after citing examples from "The Strategies in the Sayings of Yan," it points out that the phrase also appears in "The Discourses of the Zither" and "The Trapped Oath in the Family Sayings of Confucius." It can be said that it has listed most of the relevant materials for this idiom. The author of this book has a strong awareness of versions, using over a thousand ancient classics, most of which are recognized by academia as high-quality editions. For example, the "Records of the Twenty-Four Dynasties" uses the annotated version by Zhonghua Book Company, the "Four Books and Five Classics" uses the "Thirteen Classics with Annotations" by Zhonghua Book Company, and "Dream of the Red Chamber" uses the "Three Commentators" edition by Shanghai. Good versions not only ensure the accuracy of the sources but also make it very convenient for readers to consult and use them.