Ancient and Modern Rhyme Association Essentials

Author: Huang Gongshao, Xiong Zhongning, Ji Fuji, edited
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2000-02-01
Features: The Yun Hui is vast and profound in content, with a meticulous and scientific compilation method. It categorizes characters by tones (ping, shang, qu, ru), annotates their phonetic values (fǎnqiè), and explains their meanings as found in ancient Chinese dictionaries, classical texts, and the evolution of characters. It also documents their usage in classical literature and essays. Regarding the inclusion of rhyme characters, each character is annotated with its source, and the total number is counted. The preface includes Fanli·Yunli, which states the total number, and each volume has its own records. The compilers are well-informed, and the readers are equally so. The work is extensive in volume and rich in content, drawing from a broad range of sources. The Compendium of the Yun Hui can be considered a major dictionary of ancient Chinese. Qing Dynasty scholars summarized the achievements of Yun Hui into four points: 1. "Tracing the origins of characters"; 2. "Clarifying the use of homophones in classical texts"; 3. "Correcting character forms"; 4. "Citing ancient editions of classics and transmissions that often provide evidence of errors in modern editions." Today, the linguistic community increasingly values the Yun Hui for its role in the history of Chinese phonology and the history of Chinese phonetics. The study of characters, phonology, and etymology has traditionally been considered "Xiaoxue," or the foundational disciplines in Chinese tradition. Let us see how ancient scholars approached these foundational disciplines.