Cihai (Upper, Middle, Lower)

Author: Compiled by the Editorial Committee of the Cihai
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2000-01-01
Features: The Cihai is a large-scale, comprehensive dictionary that combines the functions of a character dictionary, a language and literature dictionary, and an encyclopedic dictionary, with words leading to entries. It was first published in Shanghai by the Zhonghua Book Company in 1936. Subsequently, the 1979 and 1989 editions of the Cihai were published on the occasion of the 30th and 40th anniversaries of the founding of the People's Republic of China. These two editions of the Cihai each had three-volume editions, abridged editions, supplemented editions, and subject-specific volumes. Among them, the three-volume and abridged editions have a cumulative circulation of over five million copies. In 1992, Shanghai Cishu Publishing House collaborated with Donghua Book Company to publish the Cihai (1989 edition) in Taiwan. In 1993, the Cihai won the first National Book Award Honor Award. The Cihai (1999 edition) appeared before readers with a new look in both content and form. This edition is slightly larger in size than the 1989 edition, with numerous revised entries, primarily to reflect changes in the domestic and international situation and the development of cultural science and technology, to fill gaps, correct errors, and streamline a small number of entries and definitions. This edition also introduces a color-illustrated version, featuring over 16,000 images, and presents innovations in layout, divided into four volumes with an additional appendix and index volume. At the same time, the popular edition (three volumes) continues to be published, and on this basis, an abridged edition is also published, along with subject-specific volumes and CDs. This book is the abridged edition, containing a total of 19,485 single characters (including traditional and variant characters), of which 17,674 are listed as head entries. The head entries and the entries listed under them (including general and encyclopedic terms) total 122,835 entries.