From Oblivion To Reality: A Study On British Sinologist Edward Harper Parker

Edward Harper Parker (1849-1926), is one of the well-known sinologist in Britain. Parker devotes his whole life to the study of Chinese language, religion and culture; he endeavors to popularize them. Parker has lots of thesises and books as to Chinese language, religion and culture. He makes great contribution to the compiling of Chinese-English Dictionary (version I). However, the existing research on Edward Harper Parker is disadvantageously marred by the scarcity of primary materials at disposal of the researchers involved. Utilizing lots of original material, this dissertation attempts a comprehensive study on the life, career and achievement of Edward Harper Parker through a combined method of history and linguistics. The final conclusion is as follows:Edward Harper Parker is an excellent expert of Chinese dialect. Klas Bernhard Johannes Karlgren makes wrong assessment toward the linguistics research of Edward Harper Parker. As a famous Sinologist who makes great contribution to Sinology, Parker deserve more attention from academic world.