Kangxi Dictionary

Author: Zhang Yushu (Qing Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1998-10-01
Features: Solving Dilemmas: The Chinese culture has a long history, and the accumulation of thousands of years of written characters is innumerable. "Kangxi Dictionary" compiles the essence of Chinese characters, and all difficult characters, traditional characters, and variant characters can be found. "Kangxi Dictionary" was personally ordered by the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing Dynasty to be compiled. It originally had forty-two volumes. The editing work was led by Zhang Yushu, the head of the Hanlin Academy. It was based on the "Zihui" and "Zhengzi Tong" and was supplemented and revised. It was published in the world in the 55th year of the Kangxi reign (1716). The content cites ancient poems and prose to trace the origin of the characters, and notes the usage in each dynasty to support the changes. At the end of the book, there is a "Supplement," which includes obscure characters; and a "Reference," which includes characters with sounds but no meanings or with neither sound nor meaning. "Kangxi Dictionary" totals 47,035 characters. This monumental work of literature has remained popular since its publication and has had a great influence and wide popularity for three hundred years, second to none.