Compiled Notes To Excavated Qin & Han Letters

The thesis compiles and examines excavated Qin & Han letters and available notes to them. Letters have been identified in ten caches of bamboo or silk manuscripts, namely, Shuihudi Qin du, Tianchang Xihan jian, Dunhuang Han jian(bo), Xuanquan boshu, Rentougeda Han jian, Juyan Han jian(bo), Juyan xin jian, Ejina Han jian, Dongpailou Donghan jian and Zhangjiajie Gurendi Donghan jian. These excavated documents can offer valuable information on the formation and format of Qin & Han letters and insight into the history and language of the same period as well.The thesis is constructed in four parts:foreword, body, conclusion, and appendixes. The body comprises three chapters. The first two chapters organize these excavated letters by roughly classifying them into two categories of "relatively complete letters" and "letter fragments" and chronologicalizing them. Meanwhile various notes to these letters are compiled and examined to offer an integrated reading of them. The third chapter is devoted to a systemized description of the formation and format of letters in the Qin & Han periods. Aspects covered include physical features, packaging and addressing, delivery, writing pattern, text structure, formulaic expression, salutation etc.