Research on Guangya Shuyi

Author: Xu Xinghai
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2001-12-01
Features: "‘Shui’ or written as ‘Chi’, it is a typo" is the evidence. This annotation also uses the method of identifying erroneous characters by comparing similar handwriting styles, and provides examples to verify the speculation. For instance, in the same volume, the annotation for the entry "Mei, to collect" states: "No other books interpret 'Mei' as 'collect'. 'Mei' should be a typo for 'Jiu'." Another example is from Volume 5, Part 1, the annotation for "Zhen, Shi, This" states: "No other books interpret 'Zhen' as 'This'. In all editions, the character 'Zhen' is written as 'Zhen', 'Zhen, Shi, This'. It should be a typo of 'Zhi, This, Shi'. 'Zhi' is the 'Shi' in 'Shi Zheng' (to correct), and 'This' is the 'Shi' in 'Such'. The Shu Wen states, 'Shi, Zhi also,' as evidence. Some argue it should be 'Zhi, Shi, Zheng also.' The Shu Wen states, 'Zhi, Zheng Jian also,' and 'Zheng, Shi also.' This entry claims that after reviewing all books, no one interprets 'Zhen' as 'This'. 'Zhen' and 'Zhi' have similar forms, so it might be a typo of 'Zhi'. If it is 'Zhi,' the meaning is coherent, and it is supported by the Shu Wen Jie Zi. At the same time, it analyzes the meaning of the character 'Shi', stating that 'Shi' has two meanings: one is the 'Shi' in 'Shi Zheng' (to correct), now called a verb, meaning to correct; the other is the 'Shi' in 'Such,' now called a pronoun, meaning 'this' or 'such.' Again, the annotation proposes a new perspective, replacing the predicative word 'This' with 'Zheng', making 'Zhi, Shi, Zheng also' also plausible, and supported by the Shu Wen Jie Zi. Another example is from Volume 5, Part 1, the entry "Cha, Kua also," where Wang Niansuns it as erroneous based on this method: "All editions are written as 'Cha, Kua also.' However, no other books interpret 'Cha' as 'Kua'. This is because there is a missing character in this entry, and the next entry 'Jian, Kua also' also misses the character 'Jian,' mistakenly combining them into one. It is now corrected." After correction, only the character 'Cha' remains in this entry. I am unaware of its original form and leave it as a blank for now. In the same volume, the annotation for "Jue, Kui also" states: "All editions are written as 'Jue, Kui, Mei also.' However, no other books interpret 'Jue' or 'Kui' as 'Mei'. This is because the character 'Kui' is missing after 'Kui,' and the next entry 'Kui, Mei also' also misses the character 'Kui,' mistakenly combining them into one. It is now corrected." The annotation for the following entry "Kui, Mei also" further explains the reasoning: "All editions omit the character 'Kui.' The Guang Yun states, 'Kui, Mei also.' The Zhong Jing Yin Yi Volume 10 cites the Guang Ya as saying, 'Kui, Mei also,' and now it is corrected based on this. 'Kui Wei' and 'Jue Kui' have similar meanings, so it follows 'Jue, Kui also.' If combined directly, it would be incorrect." The pronunciation of 'Xian' is 'Yu Bei Fan.' In all editions, 'Yu Shui' is written as 'Wei Miao,' and the pronunciation 'Yu Bei Fan' is listed under the character 'Wei.' However, 'Wei' and 'Wei' have the same pronunciation and should not appear together. 'Yu Shui' is a compound rhyme, while 'Wei Miao' is not. After reviewing all books, there is no evidence of using 'Wei Shui' together. This is because the pronunciation 'Yu Bei Fan' under the character 'Wei' was mistakenly transferred to the character 'Yu Shui,' and the copyist changed 'Yu Shui' to 'Wei' to match the pronunciation 'Yu Bei Fan,' leading to this error. The examination of Zhong Jing Yin Yi Volume 3, 9, and 10 states that the Guang Ya says, 'Wei Tu, Yu Xie also,' and also states, 'Yu Shui.' It is now corrected based on this." If a character is missing in a dictionary, it can be determined to be erroneous. For example, the annotation for "Fan, Ge also" in Volume 5, Part 1 states: "The character 'Fan' is missing in dictionaries. 'Fan' should be 'Gu,' or it should be 'Ku.'" The above examples all rely on the presence or absence of characters in books to deduce the errors. Some say, "All books interpret X as X," while others say, "No other books interpret X as X," or "After reviewing all books, X and Y are not used together," or "The character X is missing in dictionaries." These judgments are universal, indicating no exceptions. For a copyist, without hundreds of books in mind, how could they dare to say, "No other books"?
9. According to Cao Xian's pronunciation, the annotations are examined. Cao Xian of the Sui Dynasty annotated the Guang Ya with pronunciations, which were placed below the main text. If the main text has omissions but the annotations are preserved, the annotations can be used to infer what the main text originally was. For example, in Volume 5, Part 1, the entry "Ren, Bei also," Wang Niansun believed there were three more characters "Bei, Nian also" below, making the two consecutive entries: "Ren, Bei also"; "Bei, Nian also." The examination is as follows: "The annotations of Cao Xian's pronunciation in all editions state that under 'Bei,' there are two characters 'Gu Wan.' However, 'Gu Wan Fan' is not the pronunciation of 'Bei.' In Volume 1, it is stated, 'Nian, Qu also.' Cao Xian's pronunciation is 'Gu Wan Fan.' I suspect there are three more characters 'Bei, Nian also' below, and 'Gu Wan' is the pronunciation of 'Nian.' 'Bei' means to bend, and 'Nian' means to curl. In Volume 4, it is stated, 'Bi, Quan, Qu also.' The Shu Wen states, 'Qu, Jie Qu also. One day, it means to fold.' It is also stated, 'Bi, Nian Yi also.' In the Shi Sang Li annotation, it is stated, 'Cover with mats, fold, and reverse both ends, intersecting at the back.' In the Zhuangzi, in the 'Tian Zi Fang,' it is stated, 'The mouth is bent and unable to speak.' Sima Biao notes, 'Bi, unopened and curled.' 'Qu' and are homophonic. 'Bi' and 'Bei' are also homophonic with 'Bi.' 'Ren' is interpreted as 'Bei,' and 'Bei' is interpreted as , so the meanings are distinguished. If the above 'Qiang' is interpreted as 'Qing,' and 'Qing' is interpreted as 'Zhang,' this would be the case." This annotation uses the discrepancy between Cao Xian's pronunciation and the main text to raise doubts, then uses internal examination methods to support the speculation, and finally uses examples from multiple texts to prove it. Later, it uses internal evidence to cite two consecutive entries in the same volume, "Qiang, Qing also," and "Qing, Zhang also," to prove that the Guang Ya has this type of textual style. For example, in Volume 5, Part 1, the annotation for ", Ren also" states: "In all editions, '' is written as '', except in the, which is correct. 'Xian' is pronounced 'Qin Ren Fan.' The Yu Pian states, '' is pronounced 'Gan Ren Qie,' the Guang Yun states, 'Qi Lin Qie,' and the Ji Yun and Lei Pian state, 'Qi Ren Qie,' all matching 'Qin Ren Fan.' If it is the character '', it would not be pronounced 'Qin Ren Fan.' It is now determined to follow the." This annotation starts with the pronunciation of Cao Xian's annotation, first pointing out that it should be the character '', then citing the pronunciations of '' in the Yu Pian, Ji Yun, and Lei Pian to explain that the pronunciations are the same, indicating it is the same character. From the opposite perspective, if it is the character 'Chi,' it would not have such a pronunciation annotation, further proving it. Additionally, it explains the edition used. In Volume 5, Part 2, the annotation for "Fu, Di also" states: "Di' is written as 'Di' in all editions. According to the Shu Wen, 'Di' means 'to squeeze,' and is composed of the character 'Shou' and the sound 'Ding.' The Yu Pian pronounces it 'Duo Zha Qie.' The Shu Wen states, 'Di' means 'to strike sideways,' and is composed of the character 'Shou' and the sound 'Shi.' The Yu Pian pronounces it 'Zhi Si Qie.' It cites the Qin Ce saying, 'Di Zhang and speak.' The Shu Wen also states, 'Zhi, Kai also,' and is composed of the character 'Shou' and the sound 'Zhi.' It reads like 'Zhi' in 'Pin Zhang.' The Guang Ya Volume 3 states, 'Fu, Ji also.' This states, 'Fu, Pin also.' Cao Xian's pronunciation is 'Zhi,' so the character should be composed of the sound 'Shi,' and it is now corrected based on this. This annotation uses Cao Xian's pronunciation to determine the character 'Di.' Additionally, it is corrected based on the annotations of multiple dictionaries and the interrelated explanations in the Guang Ya before and after, not just based on Cao Xian's pronunciation.
10. Errors in characters are examined based on the principles of phonology and rhyme. Wang Niansun studied under Dai Zhen, a founder of the Wan School, and was deeply inspired by his view that "the meaning and pronunciation of characters are interdependent." Through dedicated research, Wang Niansun deeply understood the connection between the form, sound, and meaning of Chinese characters, especially the close relationship between sound and meaning. Wang once said to his eldest son, "The essence of glossary is in pronunciation. Characters with the same or similar sounds are often borrowed in classical texts."