Shuowen Jiezi (with character lookup)

Author: Xu Shen (Han)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-12-01
Features: The Shuowen Jiezi is the first systematically analytical dictionary of Chinese characters in terms of their forms and origins, and also the most widely used Chinese reference book. Compiled by Xu Shen during the Eastern Han Dynasty. The original text consists of fourteen chapters and one preface. The main body of the text primarily uses small seal script, collecting 9,353 characters, along with 1,163 variant forms including ancient script and Zou script. It includes explanations for 133,441 characters and 1,279 variant forms, with explanations totaling 126,990 characters. This is the current standard edition. The Shuowen Jiezi pioneered the method of arranging characters by radicals and introduced the Six Types of Characters theory, establishing a systematic approach to interpreting characters. This book has made significant contributions to the study of ancient scripts, ancient Chinese literature, and ancient history.