Explanation of the Meanings of Characters in Dunhuang Manuscripts

Author: Zeng Liang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-03-01
Features: This book follows the style of Yun Tu Shi's Comprehensive Explanation of Dunhuang Variation Texts, taking the entire Dunhuang corpus as its research subject. It systematically organizes and examines certain terms, colloquial characters, and erroneous characters within the texts. To ensure both the collection of materials from the Dunhuang documents themselves and the inclusion of contemporary literary evidence where possible, some historical origins are briefly traced. The content is broadly divided into three aspects: first, the explanation of linguistic terms—these words are either folk colloquialisms or seemingly ordinary but carry obscure meanings; second, the explanation of colloquial and erroneous characters, aiming to identify some patterns; third, the explanation of cultural terms, using different reference systems such as Buddhist and indigenous cultures to understand the true meanings of the words. These are notes compiled from daily readings of Dunhuang documents, titled Comprehensive Explanation of Dunhuang Textual Meanings. Naming it thus is also to follow in the footsteps of my predecessor (Yue Zhan), though I realize my limited knowledge and shallow understanding. Compared to my teacher, the gap between us is vast, nearly impossible to bridge. This serves as motivation to drive myself to learn continuously. Yun Tu Shi often taught his disciples that knowledge is a public treasure. In this book, I may question or discuss the views of past and present scholars, not to boast of my own insights, but to engage in joint exploration in pursuit of truth.