Huang Kan

Author: Liu Mengxi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1996-10-01
Features: The Chinese Modern Academic Classics series collects the works of modern Chinese scholars since the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic period. The works are organized by volume based on the length of the content, with some volumes combined and others kept separate. The selection of combined volumes considers the discipline and mentorship relationships of the included scholars. This series comprises forty-four scholars, totaling thirty-five volumes. The selected works are based on their exemplary and representative nature, primarily focusing on their independent academic value. Although some of these works have been published in different formats before, their inclusion in this classic series under the specific concept of modern Chinese academia is a first. The selected works mainly consist of monographs, with a selection of papers as well, emphasizing both renowned works and notable essays. Articles where scholars describe their academic journey or discuss their scholarly concepts and methods are included appropriately. The works of modern Chinese scholars span a wide range of writing and publication periods, with varying versions. In this selection, efforts have been made to choose the best available texts, organize them, and uniformly add modern-style punctuation. For previously published versions that are of high quality, permission has been obtained from the original compilers and publishers to include them directly. Through this (organization) and (proofreading), it is hoped that these works of classic scholars will become more accessible for new readers. Each volume includes a brief biography of the scholar, and at the end of each volume, there is an academic chronology and a list of the author's works, both written by the compilers, with varying levels of detail but striving for accuracy to assist readers in their research. For the included monographs and papers, explanatory notes are provided in a thematic manner. These notes introduce the background of their creation, the time of publication or publication, the evolution of versions, and their translation into other languages. Huang Kan was a disciple of Zhang Taiyan and made significant contributions in Chinese literature, phonology, textual criticism, and etymology. Prominent scholars such as Fan Wenlan, Lu Zongda, Cheng Qianfan, Yin Menglun, and Pan Chonggui were his followers. This series includes his classic works such as Notes on the The Art of Rhetoric, Brief Explanation of Shuowen Jiezi, Brief Explanation of Phonology and Rhyme, and Phonology. Liu Shipei was a renowned scholar with diverse achievements, contributing extensively to Confucian studies, classical philology, and literature. He played a crucial role in continuing and advancing traditional academic traditions in the Qing Dynasty. This series includes his representative work History of Medieval Chinese Literature and fifteen essays. Huang Kan (1886–1935), styled Jiji, originally named Qiao Xin, styled Meijun, later changed his name to Kan, styled Jizi, and known as Liangshou Jushi, was a native of Qichun, Hubei, and a modern Chinese linguist and philologist. He was born on April 3, 1886, in Chengdu and passed away on October 8, 1935, in Nanjing at the age of 49. Huang Kan was diligent in his studies, modestly calling himself "foolish," advocating "pursue excellence in learning" and "broad yet rigorous scholarship." He valued mentorship but did not blindly follow his teachers' doctrines, often reminding himself with the phrase "be diligent in being a person and devoted in passing on knowledge." Despite his renowned status as a scholar and frail health, he remained dedicated to academia without rest, saying, "only when I have read all the books in the world can I dare to speak." He vowed not to write until he turned 50. His studies in textual criticism, phonology, and etymology traced back to the Han and Tang dynasties and were influenced by the Qianlong and Jiaqing schools, with many original insights and a unique style. In phonology, he classified ancient sounds in a way that aligned with the actual language of his time. In his later years, he focused on etymology. Huang Kan was prolific in his writings, with important works including Brief Explanation of Phonology, Brief Explanation of Shuowen Jiezi, Brief Explanation of Erya, Jiyun Sound Classification Table, Notes on the Art of Rhetoric, Collected Records of the Rizhi Lu, and Miscellaneous Works on Learning by Huang Kan, among dozens of others. Liu Shipei (1884—1919), styled Shenshu, styled Zuogang, was a native of Yizheng, Jiangsu, and a modern master of Confucian studies. In 1904, he met Zhang Taiyan in Shanghai and leaned toward revolution, writing Essence of the Chinese People's Compact to resist autocracy. Later, he had a falling out with Zhang Taiyan, left the revolutionary faction, joined the (Alliance for the Restoration of the Empire), and served the plot of Yuan Shikai's imperial ambitions. In 1917, Cai Yuanpei appointed him as a professor at Peking University. In January 1919, he founded the "" (Monthly Journal of National Studies) with Huang Kan, Zhu Xizhu, Ma Xulun, and Liang Shuming, becoming a member of the (National Essence Faction). He passed away on November 20, 1919, in Beijing from tuberculosis at the age of 36. His main works, collected and compiled by Nan Guixin and Qian Xuantong, total 74, titled Collected Works of Liu Shenshu. He inherited the Zuo Zhuan family tradition and skillfully integrated modern Western social science research methods and achievements into the study of traditional Chinese culture, making significant contributions to expanding the boundaries of traditional culture research and achieving substantial results.