Research On Yi Sheng Characters In Shuo Wen Jie Zi

Shuo Wen Jie Zi composed by Xu Shen is the first works of philology in linguistics history of China, which analyzed the shape of characters, interpreted the meaning of characters and distinguished their pronunciation. The book which analyzed Chinese characters by Liu Shu Theory, including XiangXing ZhiShi HuiYi and XingSheng JiaJie Zhuan Zhu, exert a tremendous influence on development of Chinese philology. But some characters in the book can't be included in the Liu Shu system, standing between XingSheng and HuiYi. According to the fact that every parts of the character have meaning, the character belong to HuiYi. On the other hand, according to the fact that one part of the character show pronunciation, the character belong to XingSheng. The interpretation for these characters made by Xu Shen always have two characters, Yi Sheng, so these characters be customarily regarded as Yi Sheng Characters by scholars.The definition of Yi Sheng Characters made a great amendment to the Liu Shu Theory, and be supported by the scholars of all ages. Besides retaining some examples of Yi Sheng Chan . ters in original work, Xu Xuan and Xu Kai, who made a number of revision in Shuo Wen Jie Zi, analyzed other characters using this definition. Although didn't use the definition, Zheng Qiao, who made the Liu Shu Xiang Jian Theory in Song Dynasty, and Dai Tong, who made Liu Shu Tui Lei Theory in Song Dynasty, all had a same idea as well as Xu Shen, making improvement in Liu Shu Theory. Except Gui Fu, Four Men of Shuo Wen in Qing Dynasty supported the idea of Yi Sheng Characters, and extent the content of Yi Sheng Characters. Most scholars of last century set a high value on Yi Sheng Theory, at the same time, searched for the causes of Yi Sheng Characters.Referring to all above works, I make an effort to organize all the important conclusion made by scholars of all ages completely and orderly, at the same time, give out my shallow opinion. The dissertation be divided into three parts. Each part is described as following.The first part made an introduction on the topic, which be divided into two chapters. In the first chapter, some essential problem be answered. Firstly, the definition of Yi Sheng Characters is described. Then, Yi Sheng Characters be classifiedinto two groups, Yi Sheng Characters which mainly be XingSheng and Yi Sheng Characters which mainly be Hui Yi. Simultaneously, the causes of each group be deeply explored. After That, the relation between Yi Sheng Characters, Sheng Xun and You Wen Theory, cognate word be analyzed, making some conclusions that Yi Sheng Characters can be regarded as a special Sheng Xun, Yi Sheng Theory is the beginning of You Wen Theory, and Yi Sheng Characters belong to cognate word. At last, the value and influence of Yi Sheng Theory be described, making a conclusion that Yi Sheng Theory made great improvement and addition to Liu Shu Theory, Yi Sheng Theory which point out that some Sheng Fu in XingSheng Characters contain Shi Yuan Function give important enlightenment for researching in Chinese cognate words. The second chapter reviewed the history of research on Yi Sheng Characters. At the beginning, the research which be done before Qing Dynasty be reviewed, including Xu Xuan ,Xu Kai and Zheng Qiao ,Dai Tong. After that, research which be done in Qing Dynasty be reviewed, mainly including Four Men of Shuo Wen. At last, the research which be done in 21cn century be reviewed.The second part contain a great number of examples of Yi Sheng Characters. Almost four hundred Yi Sheng Characters which be found in books written by scholars before Qing Dynasty be organized by their pronunciation. All these characters be carefully analyzed by their shape, pronunciation and meaning, Focusing on pointing out the connection between the Yi Sheng Characters and Sheng Fu Characters, especially in their meaning and pronunciation.At the last part, three conclusion be given, which come from examples showed above. The First, Yi Sheng Characters can't be regarded as a casual phenomenon, and Shuo Wen Jie Zi contained a gre...