Chinese Traditional Linguistics and Philology: Shandong University Series on Humanities and Arts

Author: Xu Chao
Publisher:
Publication Date: 1998-01-01
Features: The Chinese Traditional Linguistics and Philology is a monumental work spanning 380,000 words, truly readable. Compared to previous works, it offers even more profound insights. Spending several days browsing through it, I found four delights:
1. Delight in its novel and scientifically grounded categorization. Traditional linguistics and philology, formerly known as "Xiaoxue," were divided into three disciplines: writing, phonology, and etymology.
2. Delight in its detailed and systematic exposition, with clear outlines and comprehensive details.
3. Delight in its blend of theory and practice, combining academic rigor with practicality.
4. Delight in its balanced approach, combining exposition with original contributions, showcasing brilliant creativity.
Traditional linguistics and philology have long been regarded as the foundation for studying all ancient classics and hold an extremely important position in Chinese history and culture. The older generation of erudite scholars were deeply rooted in this field, and in this sense, for contemporary researchers of traditional studies, especially middle-aged and young scholars, what they may lack most is not professional knowledge but rather the mastery of traditional linguistics and philology. This point has been widely acknowledged by many, and it should be taken to heart.