Mao Shi Chuan Jian Tong Shi (Volume 1, 2, and 3)

Author: Ma Richen (Qing Dynasty) compiled, Chen Jingsheng edited
Publisher:
Publishing Date: Not available
Features: The main strengths of this book lie first in leveraging the expertise of Qing Dynasty scholars in phonology, textual criticism, etymology, and the study of names and objects. It particularly employs the method of deriving meaning from sound to collate and interpret texts. The Book of Songs is one of the earliest of the Five Classics, with many characters carrying ancient pronunciations and meanings. Moreover, the text of the Mao Commentary on the Book of Songs is based on ancient Chinese classics, which contains a significant number of loan characters. The author extensively cites sources and draws parallels, demonstrating how "to prove mutual characters by ancient sound and meaning, and to distinguish loan characters by identical initial and rhyme." Sometimes, a single character can be traced to over ten instances of loan characters in ancient texts, with the original character and its original meaning identified. This corrects the often arbitrary and forced interpretations of scholars before the Qing Dynasty, providing a more accurate explanation of word meanings and grammar, thereby resolving many previously perplexing issues.