"Misquoting the ancients : editorial practices in the Kangxi zidian" / Imre Galambos

Published in Historiographia Linguistica - Volume 51, Issue 1-3, 2024 

Also available through Boston College Libraries

Abstract:

The Kangxi zidian 康熙字典 [Kangxi Dictionary] was without doubt the most influential and widely used dictionary in China during the past three centuries, and its impact on education, scholarship, and intellectual life in general, cannot be overstated. The dictionary’s compilation was a major step in the development of Chinese lexicography, and it has been at the foundation of all large dictionary projects ever since. This paper addresses the editors’ tendency to misquote and misattribute quotations, which has been among the most commonly criticized issues. My aim here is not to identify further mistakes but to document the patterns of misquotations, as these can help understand the process of the dictionary’s compilation. One noteworthy find is that in many cases members of the editorial team quoted their sources indirectly, relying on more recent encyclopedias and miscellanea.

The other Greek : an introduction to Chinese and Japanese characters, their history and influence / by Arthur Cooper ; edited by Imre Galambos.

"In The Other Greek, Arthur Cooper offers a captivating and unorthodox introduction to the world of the Chinese script through the medium of poetry, explaining the structure, meaning and cultural significance of each character. Written nearly half a century ago, and now published posthumously, the book argues that the role of Chinese writing was analogous to the influence of Greek civilization on Western culture. Chinese is the Greek of the Far East, 'the other Greek'! Originally a cryptanalyst, Cooper uses his professional--and distinctly non-academic--training to analyse Chinese characters and points out a series of unacknowledged associations between them. Ultimately, he aims to initiate the reader with no prior knowledge of the language into Chinese writing and poetry"-- Provided by publisher.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Etymology as the principle of Chinese writing -- Introducing Chinese characters -- Deerpark hermitage -- River snow I : the other Greek -- River snow II : word-building -- River snow III : rhythm -- Windows -- Stars and seething pots -- The ballad of the ancient cypress -- On releasing a wild goose -- Ware, ware, snares for hares -- The way: Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu and Lieh Tzu -- When I was green -- Snow and plum -- Farewell to the god of plagues.

Local access dig.pdf. [Cooper-The Other Greek.pdf]

The Silk Road and cultural exchanges between East and West / by Rong Xinjiang ; translated by Sally K. Church, et al. ; edited by Sally K. Church and Imre Galambos.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

"This book is translated into English from the original (Sichou zhilu yu dongxi wenhua jiaoliu by Rong Xinjiang)."

"This first and only English translation of Rong Xinjiang's The Silk Road and Cultural Exchanges Between East and West is a collection of 28 papers on the history of the Silk Road and the interactions among the peoples and cultures of East and Central Asia, including the so-called Western Regions in modern-day Xinjiang. Each paper is a masterly study that combines information obtained from historical records with excavated materials, such as manuscripts, inscriptions and artefacts. The new materials primarily come from north-western China, including sites in the regions of Dunhuang, Turfan, Kucha, and Khotan. The book contains a wealth of original insights into nearly every aspect of the complex history of this region"-- Provided by publisher.

Local access dig.pdf [Rong-Silk Road Cultural Exchanges.pdf]