A Study On Radical Tu Of Shuowenjiezizhu

This paper aims to study on Chinese characters attached with the radical of Tu inShuo WenJieZiZhu written by Duan Yucai. The paper consists of six parts. Part one is abrief introduction about the four greatest scholars who are dedicate themselves in thestudy on ShuoWenJieZi. A summary of the previous studies about ShuoWenJieZiZhu alsohas been included in this part. Part two focuses on the changes of explanations ofcharacters in radical Tu, which was made by Duan Yucai. The changes can be classifiedinto two types: formal changes and essential changes. In the end of part two we have alsosummarised Duan’s achievements as well as mistakes in changing the meaning ofcharacters in radical Tu. In the third part, we list Duan’s mistakes in explaining charactersof radical Tu in Shuo Wen Jie Zi, then try to explore the correct meaning with the help oforacles carved on bones and inscriptions on ancient bronze objects. In addition, weanalysis the reasons why Duan made such mistakes. In part four, we pay attention toDuan’s methods to explain characters in radical Tu. Including explaining the originalmeaning and explore extended meaning. With redard to the original meanings, Duanexplain them by interpreting Xu Shen’s explanation words, using analogy, circularreference, or adducing other documents. There are three major ways to extend originalmeaning: related extension, similarity extension, and extension from the particular to thegeneral. The fifth part is about the ancient culture revealed characters of radical Tu. Thelast part is a summary of this paper.