Dictionary of Names of Modern Chinese Figures: Complete Edition with Supplements

Author: Chen Yutang
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The preliminary edition of The Comprehensive Dictionary of Names and Titles of Modern Chinese Figures was published in May 1993, comprising three million words. It includes the names, titles, aliases, sobriquets, studio names, pen names, and pseudonyms of individuals, as well as their noble titles, posthumous honors, epithets, nicknames, and even allusions in historical texts. The dictionary is considered a masterpiece in the field of collecting names and titles. It was inscribed by the renowned calligrapher Sha Menghai, a predecessor in the literary world. It is reported that Sha Menghai passed away shortly after completing the inscription, making it his final work. The entries span from 1840 to the present day. The preliminary edition alone includes over 10,000 figures, covering politics, military, culture and education, science and technology, medicine and health, publishing and media, literature and arts, as well as business, industry, and religious fields, along with Qing Dynasty emperors and related historical figures. These historical records trace both the origins and recent developments. For example, Wang Tao, who submitted advice to the Taiping Army in 1862 and was later called the "Taiping Scholar," is documented in late Qing-era textual files. Another entry, "Xu Xinliu," includes information about his wife, Yang Yuxuan, sourced from a short article titled "Xinliu Gong's Wife Passes Away" in the News Daily on September 27, 1938. New materials discovered as late as 2004 were still incorporated. The study of names and titles is an interdisciplinary field, as many scholars and literati throughout history have favored using them. Names often carry specific and rich connotations, often reflecting the owner's emotions or experiences. Modern great writers like the monk Hongyi, Lu Xun, and Wang Renshu have over 100 pen names each, and their meanings are truly inexhaustible if studied in detail. For instance, Hongyi's title was personally reviewed and approved by his student Liu Zhiping. As early as the 1950s, Chen Yutang harbored the wish to write a dictionary of names and titles. Born in Nantong, Jiangsu in 1924, Chen Yutang dropped out of school after the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japan. He often claimed to be a lifelong student of two high private academies, "Cultivating Aspiration" and "Self-Cultivation," under the tutelage of the "Life-long Graduate of Literature and History" (referring to all literary and historical texts). After the liberation, he worked at an old bookstore in Shanghai, engaging in the collection of rare books. In his work, he often had to sift through piles of books to clarify a single author's pen name, yet after extensive research, he could not always find the full details. Although there were previous works like Chen Deyun's Dictionary of Ancient and Modern Aliases and Chen Naigan's Index of Studio Names and Aliases, they were far too brief to meet the needs of scholars for reference. Chen Yutang thought, "If there were a more comprehensive dictionary of pen names and titles, research would be much more convenient." This was his initial and simplest idea, and from then on, he became meticulous in his observations. He carried a small notebook in his pocket, jotting down any relevant name and title information he encountered in books, periodicals, and newspapers. At night, he would organize and verify these notes, neatly transcribing them onto individual index cards. Over time, these cards accumulated into dozens of thick stacks. The entries in this book span from 1840 to the present day. Those whose achievements post-1949 are excluded, while figures slightly before 1840 who are related to modern history are occasionally included. The total number of entries is 14,165. The collected figures cover politics, military, culture and education, science and technology, medicine and health, publishing and media, literature and arts, calligraphy, painting, seal carving, book appreciation, collection, industry, and religious fields, as well as Qing Dynasty emperors and related historical figures. At the age of 60, Chen Yutang independently wrote this book, comprising three million words, with an unparalleled breadth of figures and depth of historical research. Especially notable is the name and title index at the back, which allows for quick reference—a feature unmatched by other works. Originally aimed at the humanities and social sciences community, the book gained great popularity. Unexpectedly, it was also regarded as an essential reference tool by collectors, antique companies, and the auction industry. It has been hailed as "a unique dictionary capturing a century of social life" and "filling a gap in China's academic reference books." It has won awards such as the "Third Prize in Shanghai Philosophy and Social Sciences Outstanding Achievement Award," the "Second Prize in National Ancient Books Outstanding Book Award," the "Nomination for Zhejiang Tree Person Publishing Award," the "First Prize in Zhejiang Publishing Association Outstanding Book Award," and the national-level publishing award, the "Eighth China Book Award."