Cihai [Upper Middle Lower]

Author: Compiled by the Editorial Committee of the Cihai
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1999-09-01
Features: The Cihai is a comprehensive dictionary that combines the functions of a character dictionary, a language and literature dictionary, and an encyclopedic dictionary, organized by characters. 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 were available in 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 as the Grand Prize – the Honor Award. The Cihai (1999 edition) appeared before readers with a new look in both content and form. This edition has slightly increased in length compared to the 1989 edition, with numerous revisions to entries, primarily to reflect changes in domestic and international situations and the development of cultural science and technology, to fill gaps, correct errors, and streamline a small number of terms and definitions. This edition also introduces a color-illustrated version, featuring over 16,000 images, and presents a redesigned layout, divided into four volumes, with an appendix and an index volume. Additionally, the popular three-volume edition continues to be published, with abridged editions and subject-specific volumes and CDs also available. This book is the abridged edition, containing a total of 19,485 single characters (including traditional characters and variant characters), of which 17,674 are listed as character heads. The character heads and the entries listed under them (including general terms and encyclopedic terms) total 122,835 entries.