A Research On The Book Family Appellation By Zhengzhen

Zhengzhen, borned in Zunyi Guizhou, who is a famous scholarin the late Qing dynasty of Daoguang and Xianfeng. He is expertin studying Chinese character, phonology, exegesis and ancientrites, moreover, he left posterity writings to represent thehighest academic level of ancient Guizhou. His life can be foundin the History of Qing Dynasty·Ru Lin, both Dushan Mo Youzhiand he was known as “Southwest master”. The Family Appellation(published in1886) is a famous book written by Zhengzhen, whichexplains the family appellations of successive dynastiesrecording in rite books and researches on their source andhistorical development. The book reveals social etiquette andcustoms, it supplements and corrects the past scholars’omission on explaining the book Er Ya·Shi Qin and researchingthe family appellations of successive dynasties, it makes upfor the blank of the study of family appellations in traditionalexegesis method. Furthermore, being published at the same time,the Family Appellation was not only as famous as another bookRecord of Appellations (written by Liang Zhangju), but alsomade up for deficiencies of it.The Family Appellation is an unique dictionary ofappellations, which includes106categories of ancient and modern Chinese family appellations, it also contains about606words and imitates the arrangement of Er Ya. The FamilyAppellation has important academic contribution and academicvalue on the study of the family appellations and the issue oflanguage and culture. However, the current academic study isstill very lacking. Through a comprehensive interpretation ofthe Family Appellation, this paper carries on the thematic andsystemic research.The essay includes five parts：Ⅰ: First, introduce Zhengzhen’s life, the writing andedition of the Family Appellation. Then, introduce the currentstudy of Zhengzhen and the Family Appellation and the researchmethod of this paper.Ⅱ: Analyze the contents and regulations of the FamilyAppellation, and state its dictionary nature.Ⅲ: Discuss the academic value of the Family Appellationfrom three aspects, such as linguistics, culture andlexicography.Ⅳ: Discuss the related questions of the Family Appellationfrom views of vocabulary system, vocabulary analysis andculture.V: Explain some appellation words of the Family Appellation, meanwhile, trace its source and historical development.