Road Dunhuang By Vocabulary

Taoism is an important component of Chinese traditional culture. The Taoist language with variegated, flowery, characteristic, descriptive words makes great contribution to enriching the vocabulary of the Chinese language. However, Taoist vocabulary has gained little attention. Few researches have been carried out on it. As a result, the study of Taoist vocabulary is the weakest point in the study of the Chinese language. Surprised at the fact that Taoist vocabulary is still left untouched the famous scholar Ge Zhaoguang suggests carrying it out with either traditional or modern methods. With data from the manuscripts of Dunhuang Taoist Scriptures this dissertation carries out a study diachronically and synchronically on the vocabulary of Dunhuang Taoist Scriptures on aspects of the origination, system, construction, and variation of meaning.There are ten chapters in the dissertation. Chapter One Introduction It traces the historical relationship between Dunhuang and Taoism, reviews the researches on Dunhuang Taoist Scriptures and the vocabulary of Taoism, and points out the rationale of the study and subjects of it. Chapter Two Description of Dunhuang Taoist Scriptures To identify the data used in the study this chapter studies when Dunhuang Taoist Scriptures were written, how they were handed down, when and how many copies of them were made. Chapter Three Value of the Study of Dunhuang Taoist Scriptures It talks mainly about contribution made by Dunhuang Taoist Scriptures to the study of common words, compilation of dictionaries, and collation of Taoist books. Chapter Four Research Methods of the Vocabulary of Dunhuang Taoist Scriptures It discusses the methods of explanation and interpretation of the words of Dunhuang Taoist Scriptures. It emphasizes that the study of the words of Dunhuang Taoist Scriptures should be done on both literal and implied meanings. Chapter Five Examination and Explanation of the Characters and Words of Dunhuang Taoist Scriptures To explain the difficult words made by scribes or coined by users this chapter examines the words with wrong forms, words with wrong pronunciation, words with different forms used in different periods of time, common words, combinedwords, split words, words coined by Emperor Wu Zetian, and taboo words used instead of the personal names of the emperors of Tang Dynasty. Chapter Six Assimilation of Dunhung Taoist Scriptures from Traditional Chinese Culture In order to indicate the deep root of Dunhuang Taoist Scriptures in traditional Chinese culture (culture developed in China before the Eastern Han Dynasty) this chapter identifies traditional Chinese words in Dunhuang Taoist Scriptures to show how Dunhuang Taoist Scriptures assimilate Confucianism, and traditional systems and customs. Chapter Seven Absorption of Dunhung Taoist Scriptures from Buddhist Culture This chapter studies the words that Dunhung Taoist Scriptures borrow from Buddhism culture to indicate the interactive relationship between Dunhuang Taoist Scriptures and Buddhist culture. Chapter Eight Inheritance and Development of Dunhuang Taoist Scriptures from Laoism (daojia wenhua) By studying Laoist words in Dunhung Taoist Scriptures this chapter explores how Dunhuang Taoist Scriptures inherit and develop Laoism thus indicating the great influence of Laoism to Dunhuang Taoict Scriptures and the historical relationship between the two. Chapter Nine Doctrine Words of Taoism in Dunhuang Taoist Scriptures It examines the words indicating the doctrines of Taoism in Dunhuang Taoist Scriptures to show that these words reflect the philosophical system in Dunhuang Taoist Scriptures. Chapter Ten Characteristic Taoist Words in Dunhuang Taoist Scriptures It examines the characteristic Taoist words in Dunhuang Taoist Scriptures to indicate the contribution the vocabulary of Dunhuang Taoist Scriptures makes to the Chinese language. Conclusion The study in this dissertation claims that the vocabulary of Dunhuang Taoist Scriptures assimilates Chinese traditional culture, inherits the wisdom of Laoism, absorbs the tho...