Shizhoupian’s Impression on Chinese language Linguistics and Lexicography.
The Shizhoupian (史籀篇) is a big historic Chinese language lexicographical work believed to have been compiled through the Spring and Autumn Interval (770-476 BCE). As one of many oldest Chinese language dictionaries, it performed a vital function within the improvement of Chinese language linguistics, standardization, and written script. This text delves into the historic context, content material, and influence of the Shizhoupian, whereas additionally discussing its relation to the Erya (尔雅) and different lexicographical works of the time.
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Historic Context: Shi Zhou’s contributions to Chinese language lexicography
The Shizhoupian is attributed to the scholar Shi Zhou (史籀, “Historian Zhou”), who lived through the Spring and Autumn Interval. As a distinguished determine within the state of Qi (齐), Shi Zhou was tasked with standardizing the written script, as varied states on the time used completely different writing techniques. The Shizhoupian was the results of his efforts to codify and unify the script, changing into a vital reference for students and scribes.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERSQ: What’s the First Dictionary within the Historical past of the World? A: The primary identified dictionary in any language is the Akkadian cuneiform dictionary from historic Mesopotamia, dated to across the 2nd millennium BCE. This bilingual dictionary, generally known as the “Urra=hubullu,” was written in Sumerian and Akkadian and primarily targeted on the interpretation of Sumerian phrases and phrases into Akkadian. The Urra=hubullu was used as a lexical assist for scribes and students in historic Mesopotamia and was an important instrument for preserving the information of the Sumerian language because it started to say no in on a regular basis use.
Content material and Construction
The Shizhoupian is split into 15 chapters (篇) and accommodates over 9,000 characters. Every chapter is organized in accordance with a selected theme, corresponding to vegetation, animals, or pure phenomena. The textual content presents a hierarchical construction the place characters are grouped in accordance with their radical (部首) and organized by their phonetic similarity (声旁). This group was groundbreaking on the time and laid the muse for later Chinese language dictionaries.
The work additionally accommodates explanatory notes on the characters’ origins, meanings, and utilization, with some entries that includes illustrations to supply additional clarification. These notes and illustrations are thought-about the earliest examples of xiaozhuan (小篆), a type of small seal script that later grew to become the usual script for writing Chinese language.
Relation to the Erya
The Shizhoupian has typically been in comparison with one other vital lexicographical work of historic China, the Erya (尔雅). Compiled through the Warring States Interval (475-221 BCE), the Erya is considered the primary complete Chinese language dictionary. Whereas the Erya and Shizhoupian share similarities of their group and content material, they differ of their function and scope. The Erya is broader in scope, protecting a wider vary of subjects and vocabulary. In distinction, the Shizhoupian is extra specialised and targeted on standardizing the written script.
Impression and Legacy
The Shizhoupian was broadly adopted as a regular reference work in historic China, influencing the event of Chinese language linguistics and lexicography. Its hierarchical group of characters based mostly on radicals and phonetic similarity grew to become a mannequin for later dictionaries, such because the Shuowen Jiezi (说文解字) by Xu Shen (许慎) within the Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE).
Furthermore, the Shizhoupian’s xiaozhuan script had a long-lasting influence on Chinese language writing. The script was adopted by Emperor Qin Shi Huang (秦始皇) when he unified China in 221 BCE and standardized the written language. This type of small seal script remained the official script for a number of centuries and have become a basis for the event of recent Chinese language characters.
Nonetheless, the Shizhoupian has not been completely preserved in its authentic type. Solely fragments of the textual content have survived, with the bulk being misplaced over time. The prevailing fragments have been compiled and studied by fashionable students, offering beneficial perception into the early improvement of Chinese language lexicography and linguistics.
Notes
The Spring and Autumn Interval (春秋时代) was a interval in Chinese language historical past that lasted from 770 to 476 BCE, marked by political instability and the decline of the Zhou Dynasty (周朝). It was adopted by the Warring States Interval (战国时代), a time of intense warfare and the eventual unification of China beneath the Qin Dynasty (秦朝).Shi Zhou (史籀) was a scholar from the state of Qi (齐) through the Spring and Autumn Interval. He was answerable for the compilation and standardization of the Shizhoupian, a big lexicographical work in historic China.The Erya (尔雅) is one other necessary historic Chinese language dictionary, compiled through the Warring States Interval. It’s thought-about the primary complete Chinese language dictionary and covers a broader vary of subjects and vocabulary than the Shizhoupian.The Shuowen Jiezi (说文解字) is a well-known Chinese language dictionary compiled by Xu Shen (许慎) through the Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE). It adopted the organizational ideas of the Shizhoupian and is considered one of the crucial necessary works in Chinese language lexicography and etymology.Emperor Qin Shi Huang (秦始皇) was the primary emperor of a unified China, ruling from 221 to 210 BCE. He’s identified for his contributions to the standardization of Chinese language writing, adopting the xiaozhuan (小篆) script because the official script for the empire.
Exterior Sources
Chen, Mengjia. “On the Research of Shizhoupian.” Bulletin of the Faculty of Oriental and African Research, College of London 17, no. 3 (1955): 519-536.Liu, Guangya. “A Temporary Dialogue on the Compilation of the Shizhoupian.” Journal of Chinese language Linguistics 8, no. 2 (1980): 232-245.Wilkinson, Endymion. Chinese language Historical past: A New Handbook. Cambridge, MA: Harvard College Asia Heart, 2018.Wu, Shuchen. “The Affect of the Shizhoupian on the Growth of Chinese language Lexicography.” Journal of Oriental Research 12, no. 1 (1974): 34-43.Chinese language Textual content Undertaking: Shizhoupian (史籀篇)
Matters: Shizhoupian, historic Chinese language dictionary, Shi Zhou, Chinese language linguistics, Chinese language lexicography, script standardization, Erya
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