Historical Taboo Word Dictionary

Author: Wang Yankun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1997-05-01
Features: This is a very useful reference book for studying classic texts, history, including poetry, ci poems, novels, and other types of ancient classics. In Chinese history, there is a unique phenomenon of respect taboos, avoidance taboos, and hateful taboos, which originated in the Zhou Dynasty, matured in the Qin and Han Dynasties, flourished in the Tang and Song Dynasties, and continued until the late Qing Dynasty, spanning over 2,000 years. Therefore, it is an important issue that all those who use ancient classics should understand. The methods of avoiding taboos are also diverse, mainly including writing substitutes, marking taboos, omitting characters, using substitute words, changing names, omitting strokes, altering forms, changing pronunciations, curving explanations, filling taboos, leaving spaces, analyzing words, splitting characters, and covering with yellow paper, etc. As a result, many names in ancient classics have been changed, and even historical facts have been altered, leading to puzzling phenomena that are often encountered when reading ancient texts, which are rarely mentioned in general reference books. This book makes full use of previous research findings, collecting 987 taboo words and phrases, and categorizing them into 1,298 entries based on different dynasties and taboo subjects. This book can provide enlightenment and assistance for those who organize, study, and utilize ancient classics for work. The author, with a rigorous academic attitude, meticulously searched for materials in the vast ocean of ancient classics, citing over 500 books, and through persistent effort, completed this book.