Research on "Seal Script and Clerical Script Myriad Names"

Author: Lü Hao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: In the history of Chinese character development, Xiao Seal script has a relatively short survival period, but it has had a significant impact on the evolution of Chinese characters. During the transition from oracle bone script and bronze inscriptions to Xiao Seal script, some characters underwent distortion. Zanli Wanniang Mingyi (hereinafter referred to as Mingyi), compiled by the Japanese monk Kukai (774–835) on the basis of Guoyu Wang's Yupian from the Southern Dynasties period of China, integrating other relevant character books, adding Xiao Seal script annotations, and editing. Mingyi survives in a handwritten manuscript from the second year of the period (1114), and is revered as a national treasure in Japan. This book conducts a detailed study and textual research on the item system of Mingyi that has been overlooked by predecessors, as well as related issues such as its author, compilation date, versions, and conventions. It plays a uniquely important role in using Mingyi to correct Shuowen Jiezi and Yupian, investigating medieval characters and phonetics, and improving the compilation of modern dictionaries.