Language and Literature Collection

Author: Jiang Zongfu
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-09-01
Features: Looking back, my academic journey has been long. Even now, though I have passed the age of forty, I am still "struggling" for a doctoral degree. To say "not knowing the uncertainties of life" is a bit of self-deception. After graduating from high school in July 1977, I taught at the junior high school division of Guanyi Town Primary School in Zitong County, Sichuan Province, for half a year. In March 1978, I enrolled in the Chinese Department of Mianyang Normal College in Sichuan. In 1982, I entered the Chinese Department of Nanchong Normal College, completing four years of study. From 1981 to 1987 (with a break from August 1983 to August 1987), I taught at Jiangyou Normal School in Sichuan Province for six years. In September 1987, I enrolled in the Chinese Classical Documents program at Sichuan University, pursuing a master's degree under the guidance of Professors Li Chongzhi and Jing Benzhi. I also took professional or elective courses taught by professors such as Xiang Chu, Zhao Zhen duo, Zhang Yongyan, Xiang Xi, and Zhang Yizhou. Their profound moral integrity and extensive academic achievements deeply inspired me, enlightening me about the unknown and guiding me toward a brighter future. Despite my mediocre abilities, after graduating with my master's degree in July 1990, I resisted the allure of the outside world and chose to teach at Southwest Normal University. It must be said that the influence of these professors played a significant role in this decision. My actual engagement in the teaching and research of Chinese language, characters, and classical documents began only when I took up my new position, and to this day, it has been exactly eleven years. In addition to teaching, I initially participated in the compilation of the "Dictionary of Pre-Qin Philosophers," followed by the proofreading of works such as the "Annotations and Commentaries on the Gongyang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals" and the "Annotations and Explanations of the Records of Rites," totaling over a million characters. The "Annotations and Commentaries on the Thirteen Classics" was a project I took seriously, giving me some understanding of traditional Chinese culture. Over the years, in addition to teaching, supervising graduate students, and leading several national and provincial-level research projects, I have also written a few short articles, with some occasionally published. I believe I have no profound insights to offer, but rather the product of rigorous evaluations, quantitative checks, and the pressure of professional title assessments. With the passage of time, these writings should have been laid to rest or placed where they belong. I never imagined they would be collected and published. Moreover, over the past decade, apart from teaching, I have been constantly exhausted and faced numerous frustrations. How much genuine wisdom could I possibly have? However, my few short articles, though perhaps considered mere trifles by some, have indeed been collected and published. These articles primarily focus on the etymology and interpretation of colloquial terms, while those on ancient texts fall within the traditional field of textual criticism. The articles on computer information processing and the modern transformation of traditional research methods reflect my observations on the role and limitations of contemporary advanced technology in the study of traditional culture. Hence, I have broadly titled this collection "Essays on Language and Documents." It does not claim any novelty. The reason for compiling and publishing these writings is, as the saying goes, "When you are part of an organization, you have no choice." Because of the development of disciplines within the organization, every individual has a responsibility and duty to contribute their efforts, all centered around this core and goal. In his postscript to his major work "Continued Explanations of Buddhist Texts," Professor Li Weiqi writes, "Securing a doctoral program is a matter of honor, while failing to do so is a misfortune. To secure this misfortune (though it is now an honor), I had to rush to write a book titled 'A Review of Chinese Phonology Research.'" Professor Li wrote a book, while I have merely compiled a few short articles—no comparison. Professor Li says, "It is now an honor." They have secured the doctoral program, hence the honor. We, on the other hand, are currently in "misfortune," because there is no doctoral program for humanities and literature in the Chongqing Municipality, which is highly incongruous with its status and cultural development. Moreover, securing a doctoral program is no easy feat, and the competition is fierce, as everyone knows. If successful, it brings honor to all; if not, it is often due to insufficient teacher qualifications and a lack of readiness. Despite knowing this, we still strive to secure one—the helplessness and pressure of this situation cannot be fully understood by outsiders.
Introduction to "Essays on Language and Documents (Traditional Chinese Edition)": From a macro perspective, with the growing strength of China and its rising international status, the world is currently experiencing a wave of interest in learning Chinese and understanding China. Therefore, the number of researchers in Chinese language and characters is gradually expanding, and research in this field is becoming more in-depth and widespread. I hope this series of books can play a small role in China's journey toward the world and the world's understanding of China.