The Research On Compilation Of Zi-hui

Zi-hui is a Ming-dynasty dictionary compiled by Mei Yingzuo.The dictionary has 12 episodes in total.One volume can be collected separately in its beginning and end.Totally 33,180 words have been recorded therein.(1)This dictionary has certain major reform in its dictionary style,which is called as the opening work in the history of Dictionaries by later generations,as well as another classic one after Lei Pian.As the earliest dictionary,closest to the modern dictionaries in style in course of history in dictionaries,Zi-hui has not completely inherited the compilation systems of those dictionaries in previous generations.Instead,it better absorbed the compilation-related advantages of the previous ones,merged Mei’s self-thought about such styles of previous dictionaries and created a unique Mei’s compilation theory for providing a new direction for further development in dictionary-compiling work,as well as generating a long-term impact on the scientific development of future dictionaries.Titled with“Exploration on Compilation of Zi-hui”,this paper focused on extracting the compiling idea upon Zi-hui for better showing the compilation style and methodology derived under the guidance of such idea.Actually,the dictionary has rich compilation ideas and connotations,full of interlocking contents,determining its overall compilation direction.By taking the compilation idea of"Encompassing Ancient and Modern,Supplementing with Reading Classics" as main idea,this paper passed through the material-selection view,compilation style and compilation methodology of Zi-hui.Firstly,in terms of compilation and material-selection view,this dictionary followed the words-selecting principle of "Erudite and Informed,Focusing on Appealing to All,Integration of Orthodox and Common,Focusing on Popularity".Secondly,as for its compilation style,the radicals in Zi-hui were arranged according to the idea of "Simplifying Radicals in Analytical Dictionary of Characters and Guiding with Regular Script".And the radical characters were listed in accordance with the idea of purporting with "I-Ching" and Ordering with Numbers.In addition,all the multiple-sound items under same prefixes were collected following the idea of "Gathering Thoughts of all Families and Prioritized with Time".Finally,as for the compilation methodology of Zi-hui,"Combination of Direct Phonetic-notating & Resection Methods and Supplement of Others,Gathering of That-time Sounds and Adoption of all Families",this dictionary also gave better phonetic notations for its Chinese characters,as well as made interpretations for these characters complying with the idea of "Trying to Make Simple Own Explanations and Presenting Thoughts of Others in Correct and Comprehensive Manner”.Actually,Zi-hui has achieved profound impacts on the compilation of multiple ancient dictionaries,such as Zheng Zi Tong and Kangxi Dictionary.And Zheng Zi Tong inherited the radical-stroke checking method of Zi-hui and further corrected some errors therein.Additionally,Kangxi Dictionary also has some reflections of Zi-hui in compilation material-selecting view,compilation styling view and compilation methodology.In terms of collection of Chinese characters,Kangxi Dictionary made necessary supplements to the characters collected within Kangxi Dictionary and Zheng Zi Tong with the total of47,035 words,achieving the dictionary in the ancient China,second only to Si Sheng Pian Hai in Yuan Dynasty.In its writing style,Kangxi Dictionary continued multiple stylistic rules,such as interpretations to pronunciation,meaning and content.Comparing with Zi-hui,this dictionary can be said more refined,matured and standardized as a whole.In the supplementary-content style,Kangxi Dictionary better inherited the relatively complete appendix system from Zi-hui and made further enrichments accordingly.