Shuowen Jiezi Xituan

Author: Xu Kai
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1998-12-01
Features: During the Five Dynasties and Southern Tang periods, there were two scholars who studied the Shuowen Jiezi (Analysis of Characters): Xu Xuan and Xu Kai. The Shuowen passed down by Xu Xuan is the current standard version of the Shuowen Jiezi, while the Shuowen passed down by Xu Kai is the Shuowen Jiezi Xituan (Comprehensive Commentary on the Shuowen Jiezi). The standard Shuowen Jiezi and the Shuowen Jiezi Xituan differ in content, stroke annotations for each character, and the order of characters. According to the research of Mr. Zhou Zumo, the Xituan has many advantages. In addition to citing ancient texts and modern language to explain ancient meanings and terms, it has the following features:
1. Using Xu’s annotations to explain ancient texts;
2. Explaining the use of homophones in ancient texts;
3. Explaining variant characters between ancient and modern times;
4. Explaining extended meanings;
5. Including alternative meanings;
6. Distinguishing incorrect pronunciations.
There are three versions of the Shuowen Jiezi Xituan in circulation. Among them, the best is the edition carved by Qi Qianzao during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty. This edition was collated based on the shadow-copied Song-era manuscript preserved by Gu Qianli and the surviving fragments of a Song-era woodblock edition preserved by Wang Shizhong. It far surpasses other versions, so it was used as the basis for the facsimile printing.