Shuowen Jiezi (with character lookup)

Author: Xu Shen (Han Dynasty), edited and proofread by Xu Xuan (Song Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publishing Time: Not available
Features: This book is the first systematic Chinese dictionary analyzing character forms and tracing their origins. It is also the most widely used essential reference work in Chinese. Shuowen Jiezi summarizes the achievements of literature from the pre-Qin and Western Han periods, preserving the form, sound, and meaning of Chinese characters. It serves as an indispensable bridge for studying oracle bone script, bronze inscriptions, ancient phonology, and textual research. Especially, Shuowen generally retains the ancient meanings of character interpretations, which greatly aids in understanding the terms in ancient texts. It preserves materials for studying ancient social history, culture, and other aspects, serving as a crucial step in organizing our country's excellent cultural heritage. Shuowen includes explanations of characters with various meanings, reflecting ancient politics, economy, culture, customs, and more. For example, in Shuowen, "" (chariot) is described as "the general name for vehicles with wheels, invented by Xi Zhong during the Xia Dynasty." According to Shuowen's explanation, it is certain that chariots existed as a means of transportation during the Xia Dynasty. Another example is the character "" (surname), which derives from "" (woman) and includes surnames like "" (Jiang), "" (Qi), and "" (Yao), hinting at the traces of ancient matriarchal society. Thus, Shuowen reflects some historical situations and various knowledge of ancient times, helping us gain a deeper understanding of the past and present.
There are countless versions of Shuowen Jiezi throughout history. This edition is based on the Chen Changzhi engraved edition, utilizing both traditional and unearthed documents. It follows the principle of "preserving authenticity and reliability while ensuring convenience and practicality." Below each small seal character, it arranges representative forms from oracle bone script, bronze inscriptions, bamboo and silk texts, coin inscriptions, stone inscriptions, and other materials that reflect the evolution of the character. The modern pronunciation is marked with Pinyin letters, facilitating comparative research. Additionally, it includes a radical stroke index and a phonetic index for easy reference.
Author: Xu Shen (Han Dynasty), edited and proofread by Xu Xuan (Song Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publishing Time: Not available
Features: This book is the first systematic Chinese dictionary analyzing character forms and tracing their origins. It is also the most widely used essential reference work in Chinese. Shuowen Jiezi summarizes the achievements of literature from the pre-Qin and Western Han periods, preserving the form, sound, and meaning of Chinese characters. It serves as an indispensable bridge for studying oracle bone script, bronze inscriptions, ancient phonology, and textual research. Especially, Shuowen generally retains the ancient meanings of character interpretations, which greatly aids in understanding the terms in ancient texts. It preserves materials for studying ancient social history, culture, and other aspects, serving as a crucial step in organizing our country's excellent cultural heritage. Shuowen includes explanations of characters with various meanings, reflecting ancient politics, economy, culture, customs, and more. For example, in Shuowen, "" (chariot) is described as "the general name for vehicles with wheels, invented by Xi Zhong during the Xia Dynasty." According to Shuowen's explanation, it is certain that chariots existed as a means of transportation during the Xia Dynasty. Another example is the character "" (surname), which derives from "" (woman) and includes surnames like "" (Jiang), "" (Qi), and "" (Yao), hinting at the traces of ancient matriarchal society. Thus, Shuowen reflects some historical situations and various knowledge of ancient times, helping us gain a deeper understanding of the past and present.
There are countless versions of Shuowen Jiezi throughout history. This edition is based on the Chen Changzhi engraved edition, utilizing both traditional and unearthed documents. It follows the principle of "preserving authenticity and reliability while ensuring convenience and practicality." Below each small seal character, it arranges representative forms from oracle bone script, bronze inscriptions, bamboo and silk texts, coin inscriptions, stone inscriptions, and other materials that reflect the evolution of the character. The modern pronunciation is marked with Pinyin letters, facilitating comparative research. Additionally, it includes a radical stroke index and a phonetic index for easy reference.