Professor Li Xinkui Memorial Collection

Author: Editor-in-Chief: Wang Mian
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1998-08-01
Features:
Fragment: Five Other Aspects (1) The study of the history of phonology, including both ancient and modern aspects. The former includes topics such as the phonology of the Ming Dynasty and the influence of Sanskrit on phonology, while the latter involves a review and prospect of phonological research in this century and since the founding of the country. (2) Writing the history of phonetics. He wrote The History of Chinese Phonetics and The History of Mandarin Phonetics, but since these books have not yet been published, they will not be elaborated on here. (3) The discussion of the application of phonology in other disciplines and the popularization of phonological knowledge. Chapter 7 of An Overview of Ancient Phonology is titled "The Application of Ancient Phonology," and such content is also included in the compiled ancient Chinese language textbooks. Additionally, there are several papers on this topic. As for popular articles, there are even more, and it is impossible to discuss them all. (4) Reference work. In addition to the tonal chart materials in the aforementioned The Tonal Chart of Chinese Phonology, the professor also collaborated with students to compile An Overview of Ancient Phonological Works Before the Republic of China, introducing over 500 phonological works and materials from before the Republic of China, providing convenience for scholars. (5) The study of modern phonetics and dialectal phonetic history. This is included in the broader scope of phonology. In terms of modern Chinese (including dialects) phonetics, the professor compiled The Eighteen Tones of Xiamen Dialect and A Common Dictionary of Mandarin and Xiamen Dialect, and wrote papers on topics such as the syllable structure of Mandarin, the characteristics and internal differences of Cantonese dialectal phonetics, and guiding the people of Chaozhou to learn the Beijing accent. In dialectal phonetic history, he made significant explorations into the historical phonetics of Chaozhou and Cantonese dialects. He also used Chaozhou phonetics to prove some issues in ancient phonology. (6) There is one more thing that must be mentioned: the professor was one of the main initiators of the Chinese Society of Phonology, and after the society was established, he served as a council member and vice president for a long time, making significant contributions to promoting academic research in the field of phonology. He supervised two batches of master's students in phonology, totaling 3 people; admitted one batch of doctoral students, 2 people; and had several batches of visiting students, over a dozen in total. The Chinese Society of Phonology has held three phonological research seminars, and the professor taught at all of them. He devoted much effort to training the next generation of phonological scholars.
Six Research Methods
The great achievements of the professor largely owe to his research methods. This is also a contribution he made to the development of phonology, worth summarizing well. The following three points were mentioned by the professor to his students more than once, and can be considered his own experience. They are compiled here for the reference of future scholars.
(1) Comprehensive and systematic, the broader the better. He once praised his student, "He did not focus on a segment of the history of Chinese phonetics or a single aspect of phonology, but instead emphasized the overall concept of phonology or the history of phonetics, conducting extensive research. As a result, he was able to explore from ancient phonology to middle phonology to modern phonology, and from ancient phonology to modern phonology to tonal chart studies. With such a broad exploration, his gains were naturally abundant" (Preface to Phonology and Dialectal Studies). This was originally the professor's requirement for his students, but it was also his own academic style. He often told his students that only by viewing phonology and the history of phonetics as a whole and conducting comprehensive and systematic research on each sub-discipline of phonology and each stage of the history of phonetics could one more deeply understand individual issues in phonology and the phonetic phenomena of specific eras. On the other hand, if one confined themselves to a small scope, it might appear as if they were "concentrating their forces," but in reality, it would be difficult to truly delve deep. The professor's research focused more on tonal chart studies and modern phonology, but he also put a lot of effort into middle phonology and ancient phonology. In linguistics outside of phonology, he devoted significant effort to dialectology and the vocabulary and grammar of ancient Chinese, and touched upon some other areas as well. He often browsed extensively through books on history, literature, classics, and philosophical works, which benefited his professional research as well. For example, by thoroughly reading A Collection of Lyrics, he discovered many materials related to the common phonology of the Song and Yuan dynasties.
(2) Based on materials, unified by theory. The relationship between materials and theory has always been a problem that scholars must face. The professor believed that academic research should first master sufficient materials, analyze them based on the materials themselves, and that all conclusions must come from the analysis of the materials. It is important not to be constrained by existing theories or misled by so-called "new trends" in theory. On the other hand, one cannot lack theoretical thinking, as this would prevent the purification of the underlying value of the material research. In writing the initial version of The Tonal Chart of Chinese Phonology, he was initially not skeptical of the popular concept of "tones," but later found that many of the collected materials did not align with the common. After, he proposed his own new insights. He repeatedly warned his students not to write articles that merely list materials without their own perspectives, or those that hastily apply preconceived theories to a little bit of material. The former type of article tends to be fragmented and overly detailed, while the latter tends to be hollow and lacking in substance.
(3) Long-term accumulation, short-term breakthrough. Some topics require a steady accumulation of materials, and when a certain foundation is formed, one can then concentrate time and energy to purposefully seek materials and conduct research, making it easier to achieve results. Works such as The Tonal Chart of Chinese Phonology and An Overview of Ancient Phonological Works Before the Republic of China were produced in this way. Professor Xingqiao is one of the outstanding phonologists of the contemporary era. Professor Yan Xueju, the first president of the Chinese Society of Phonology and a famous linguist, once praised him, "He connects the past and the present, provides detailed arguments, constructs ancient readings with distinctive characteristics, and forms his own unique views, which are rare in the country. He can break free from the heavy scholastic atmosphere of the old and the new, respect objective facts, excavate new materials, use new methods, and establish new perspectives. In the field of Chinese phonology in our country, it is well-known that he is renowned as the 'Southern Scholar'" (September 1980, "Review Opinion on the Main Papers and Monographs of Comrade Li Xinkui"). Over the decade after Yan Lao wrote these comments, Professor Xingqiao achieved even more remarkable accomplishments. Although he passed away at a young age, he left the phonology field with a very rich academic legacy. Future researchers will always cherish him as they study and utilize this legacy.
Postscript: From the spring of 1993 when Xinkui contracted cancer to the autumn of 1997 when he passed away in Chaozhou, he went through more than four years. During this time, he fought tirelessly against the relentless disease with an indomitable will and extraordinary perseverance, and completed his final struggle in life. In the more than four years, in addition to several surgeries and hospitalizations, he continued to do extraordinary work despite his illness: First, he insisted on teaching doctoral and undergraduate courses. As long as he was not hospitalized, he would attend all the courses scheduled on his timetable, and as soon as he stepped onto the podium, both he and the listeners would forget that he was a patient. There were several occasions where he continued to teach despite severe hematuria before being hospitalized. Second, he insisted on fulfilling his commitments to publishers. As far as I know, he signed several book contracts with several publishers. As long as he felt a bit better, he would work tirelessly to fulfill his book commitments. I remember last May when he just returned home from a hospital in Henan, he eagerly worked on the final touches of The History of Mandarin Phonetics. Before his last hospitalization, I saw him dragging a tired body from his study to the living room, his fingers still stained with thick ink. Third, he actively participated in various academic activities. During this period, he attended academic conferences in Beijing, Guizhou, Fuzhou, Chaozhou, and Shantou, among other places. In Guizhou, he enjoyed the Huaxi and Huangguoshu Waterfall with the conference attendees, refusing to give up until he reached the destination. Many acquaintances always asked him with concern, "Professor Li, how are you doing recently?" He would always smile and answer, "Just barely hanging on, living and dying." He maintained a very optimistic attitude. In the first half of 1996, in order to attend the "Academic Symposium on Rao Zongyi" in Chaozhou, he searched extensively for and referenced over 50 works on Sanskrit, wrote a 30,000-word long article titled "The Introduction of Sanskrit and the Development of Chinese Phonology," and delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony, comprehensively and appropriately discussing Professor Rao Zongyi's contributions to the study of Sanskrit, which deeply moved Professor Rao. Fourth, he actively compiled the "Li Family Phonological Series." When Xinkui learned that he had cancer, the first thing he did was call me to his home to meticulously check and return all the manuscripts left by the late Professor Fang Xiaoyue to Fang Hezhu, Fang Xiaoyue's daughter. The second thing he did was to organize and bind his previously published and published works, saying that if his descendants became wealthy in the future, they could be printed and passed down. He originally planned to compile the "Fifteen Books of Li Family Phonology," surpassing Gu Yanwu and Jiang Yougao, to reflect the achievements of the new generation of phonologists. Unfortunately, his poor health prevented him from realizing his ambitions, which is a significant loss for the field of Chinese phonology.
After autumn in Lingnan, the climate is abrupt and unpredictable, with low atmospheric pressure at times that is unbearable. Lying on his sickbed, Xinkui felt that he was nearing the end of his life. One day, he looked at his family who had been guarding him and said that after he passed away, they should not hold a farewell ceremony or a memorial service, but scatter his ashes into the rivers and seas, allowing him to return to nature. The next day, when I visited him in the hospital, he repeated these words and also spoke many philosophical remarks in between, as if discussing academic matters. Faced with death, he still approached life and death as a philosophical issue, fully reflecting his materialist life view and calm scholar's demeanor. Xinkui has left us. His family and relatives who were close to him, as well as his hometown elders and friends and disciples scattered across the country, all feel immense grief. After mourning, they hope to commemorate this highly respected and beloved scholar of the generation—Professor Li Xinkui—in some way. With the care and support of the Party and government leaders of the Chinese Department of Sun Yat-sen University, we organized the editorial committee for the Commemorative Collection of Professor Li Xinkui to plan the publication of the commemorative collection, which immediately received enthusiastic responses and strong support from scholars at home and abroad. Countless heartfelt and wise short essays and long articles came like snowflakes from all over the country and across the ocean, showing how deeply Xinkui's spirit moved people. This book was specifically edited and published by Mai Yun and Chen Dingfang, who were personally mentored by Professor Xinkui, with the assistance of Huang Guangwu and Chen Weiwu, and the hard work of editor-in-chief Wang Mian of Zhonghua Book Company. We sincerely and wholeheartedly express our gratitude to them all! The Chinese Department of Sun Yat-sen University and the Guangdong Provincial Chinese Language Society plan to hold a solemn memorial service on the anniversary of Professor Xinkui's passing. At that time, this collection will join the attendees in remembering Professor Xinkui's style and achievements, and our lingering grief.
Zeng Xiantong
Qingming Festival, 1998