Erkui Mao (1 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. First edition (issued in several size formats). 8 vo. 4 volumes. Calf and marbled boards with wear, vol. 1 spine peeling . Text in vertical script, organized by radicals and stroke count. The Ciyuanis the first comprehensive word dictionary (cidian) in Chinese lexicography, explaining the meanings and origins of words, idiomatic expressions, and classical references. Published during the early Republic of China, it played a crucial role in the modernization of Chinese linguistic studies. This copy with various contemporary notations on endpapers and in text of a European student of the Chinese language. Lu Erkui's 1915 Ciyuan ("Sources of Words"), marked a significant advancement in Chinese lexicography by focusing on the meanings and origins of words rather than just characters. It was China's first modern dictionary on the Chinese language. Mao Zedong reportedly carried a copy of Ciyuan with him during his early years, reflecting its importance and influence. The Ciyuan was eventually published in four volumes in 1916, further solidifying its place as a foundational text in Chinese linguistic studies.