Chinese Lexicography — A History from 1046 BC to AD 1911 (review)

1 56Reviews Chinese Lexicography —A Historyfrom 1046 BC to AD 1911. 2008. Heming Yong andJing Peng. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Pp. xvii + 402 + 55. Y° -I- gl Tong and Peng have certainly aided our understanding ofChinese Ian- . guage and cultural history with this survey of Chinese lexicography from its origins in Zhou Dynasty character primers through the appearance of the earliest dictionary, Erya (200 BG), to the bilingual dictionaries and specialized glossaries of the Qing Dynasty. This is the most complete history of Chinese lexicography written in English to date and it reflects the dramatic increase in scholarly lexicographic research published in China over the last two decades. Over a span of 402 pages the authors introduce over 550 lexicographic works; for many we are provided an English version of the title, the Chinese title (in simplifiedform characters — used throughout in place of the original-form characters), alternate titles by which the work is known, and the author's name in pinyin and Chinese characters. This wealth of data in historical context combined with the book's three indices, titles English to Chinese, titles Chinese to English, and Chinese names (^mym alphabetical), result in an indispensable bibliographic resource . One distinct feature of this work is the authors bring a Chinese sensibility to this story of Chinese lexicography. This is revealed not only in some non-standard terminology when translating book titles and describing lexicographic methodologies but also in the authors' pride in the accomplishments of their lexicographic ancestors. This is not a bad thing. When necessary the reader can adjust to it and it serves to remind us that we are getting a new perspective. It should be noted that without exception the text is delivered in clear, flawless English. The book reads not as a translation from Chinese but as one authored in English for English-speakers. The book is organized chronologically into five parts comprising twentyfive chapters and ninety-six sub-headings. The major divisions are: "Part I: Introduction "; "Part II: The Genesis and Emergence of Lexicographical Culture and Works in Ancient China" (1046 BC-AD 220); "Part III: The Exploration and Cultivation of Lexicography in China" (220-1368); "Part IV: The Reform and Shaping of Lexicography in China" (1368-1911); and "Part V: Chinese Bilingual Lexicography : A Brief Overview" (618-191 1). Readers interested in the genesis of Chinese lexicography will appreciate the extra attention and analysis given five significant early works that appeared between 200 BG and 230 AD: (using the authors' English titles) Historian Zhou's l*rimer, The Ready Guide, The Dictionary ofDiakctkal Wortk, An Explanatory Dictionary ofChinese Characters, and the Dictionary ofChinese Characters and Terms. Each of these is assigned its own chapter and is discussed under four shared subheadings: the Dictionaries:Journal ofthe Dictionary Society ofNorth America 30 (2009), 156-157 Reviews1 57 historical background to its birth, the background and motivation for its compilation , its format and style, and its cultural and academic implications. The level of detail given the five early works contrasts with the limited treatment other dictionaries receive in subsequent chapters. Many of these minor works may be new to readers and the lack of additional background information may be unsatisfying - but their inclusion, even when simply in a list of related titles , will be appreciated. Another area that is certain to leave some readers unfulfilled is "Part V. Chinese Bilingual Lexicography: A Brief Overview." Although only thirty-four pages, this segment adequately covers the topic but does so without the level ofanalysis afforded the earlier "monolingual" chapters. The cursory treatment here is still valuable as it pulls together a wide range ofold and new research and helps describe the transition during the Ming and Qing period to a more modern, scientifically acceptable lexicography. Overall this is a very valuable work with only a few shortcomings. The use of simplified-form characters throughout may cause some consternation. The English titles used for some well-known dictionaries are unique and may create difficulty for some in identifying those works. The use of standard lexicographic nomenclature in new ways takes a bit of adjustment by the reader. A number of important items do not appear in the indices, e.g...