Shizhoupian
Encyclopedia
Shizhoupian refers to the Hàn dynasty
etymological dictionary Shuōwén Jiézì, based on fragments of a compendium of roughly 800 BCE which was written in the late Western Zhōu
script.
Zhòuwén refers to the set of 220 or so examples of ancient characters reproduced in the Shizhoupian from that compendium; it is not the name of the book, nor is it the general name of the script in use at that time (‘late Western Zhōu script’); rather, it is the name of a particular example of that script. The zhòuwén characters help supplement the far larger quantity from late Western Zhōu bronzes as evidence of late W. Zhōu script.
Traditionalists holds that around the end of the Western Zhōu, the Zhōu King Xuān
’s historian, Shĭzhòu (史籀), Historian Zhòu, compiled the written characters into a lexicon of fifteen piān (篇), sections. This account has been questioned by some scholars who thought the script structure and style do not match that period; however, others disagree and uphold the traditional dating. Wáng Gúowéi (王國維)
also questioned the traditional interpretation of zhòu (籀) as the historian’s name, pointing out that in ancient times, according to Shuōwén, it had the same meaning as 讀 dú (to study and understand the meaning of books; to read). According to this view, the title of the book was likely taken from the first sentence of the text (as is often done when assigning names to untitled ancient texts like those on bronzes), which presumably contained ‘the historian studies…’. However, numerous scholars believe that Shĭ Zhoù (Historian Zhòu) was the historian listed as Shĭ Liú (史留 Historian Liú) in the Hànshū (Book of Han)
’s chapter on Notable Persons Past and Present. (Note that 籀 has at its center the graph 留, and the implication is that the two characters are cognate.) Confirmation of the historical existence of a Historian Liú from the correct period of time has been found on an ancient dĭng tripodal cauldron in the collection of the Shànghǎi Museum, leading to the conclusion that the Shĭzhòupiān was indeed likely written by a Historian Zhòu.
The zhòuwén characters have been described as generally symmetrical and balanced, and are on average (although not always) more complex than the later seal characters. They contain many swirls and circles in place of later squared or rectilinear forms.
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
etymological dictionary Shuōwén Jiézì, based on fragments of a compendium of roughly 800 BCE which was written in the late Western Zhōu
Western Zhou
The Western Zhōu period was the first half of the Zhou Dynasty of ancient China. It began when King Wu of Zhou overthrew the Shang Dynasty at the Battle of Muye. C.H...
script.
Zhòuwén refers to the set of 220 or so examples of ancient characters reproduced in the Shizhoupian from that compendium; it is not the name of the book, nor is it the general name of the script in use at that time (‘late Western Zhōu script’); rather, it is the name of a particular example of that script. The zhòuwén characters help supplement the far larger quantity from late Western Zhōu bronzes as evidence of late W. Zhōu script.
Traditionalists holds that around the end of the Western Zhōu, the Zhōu King Xuān
King Xuan of Zhou
King Xuan of Zhou was the eleventh sovereign of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty. Estimated dates of his reign are 827-782 BC or 827/25-782 BC.He worked to restore royal authority after the Gong He interregnum. He fought the 'Western Barbarians' and another group on the Huai River to the southeast. In...
’s historian, Shĭzhòu (史籀), Historian Zhòu, compiled the written characters into a lexicon of fifteen piān (篇), sections. This account has been questioned by some scholars who thought the script structure and style do not match that period; however, others disagree and uphold the traditional dating. Wáng Gúowéi (王國維)
Wang Guowei
Wang Guowei , courtesy name Jing'an or Baiyu , was a Chinese scholar, writer and poet...
also questioned the traditional interpretation of zhòu (籀) as the historian’s name, pointing out that in ancient times, according to Shuōwén, it had the same meaning as 讀 dú (to study and understand the meaning of books; to read). According to this view, the title of the book was likely taken from the first sentence of the text (as is often done when assigning names to untitled ancient texts like those on bronzes), which presumably contained ‘the historian studies…’. However, numerous scholars believe that Shĭ Zhoù (Historian Zhòu) was the historian listed as Shĭ Liú (史留 Historian Liú) in the Hànshū (Book of Han)
Book of Han
The Book of Han, Hanshu or History of the Former Han Dynasty |Fan Ye]] . Various scholars have estimated that the earliest material covered in the book dates back to between 206 and 202 BCE...
’s chapter on Notable Persons Past and Present. (Note that 籀 has at its center the graph 留, and the implication is that the two characters are cognate.) Confirmation of the historical existence of a Historian Liú from the correct period of time has been found on an ancient dĭng tripodal cauldron in the collection of the Shànghǎi Museum, leading to the conclusion that the Shĭzhòupiān was indeed likely written by a Historian Zhòu.
The zhòuwén characters have been described as generally symmetrical and balanced, and are on average (although not always) more complex than the later seal characters. They contain many swirls and circles in place of later squared or rectilinear forms.
Sources
- 陳昭容 Chén Zhāoróng (2003) 秦系文字研究 ﹕从漢字史的角度考察 Research on the Qín (Ch'in) Lineage of Writing: An Examination from the Perspective of the History of Chinese Writing. 中央研究院歷史語言研究所專刊 Academia Sinica, Institute of History and Philology Monograph. ISBN 957-671-995-X.
- 漢語大字典. Hànyǔ Dàzìdiǎn, 1992. 湖北辭書出版社和四川辭書出版社 Húbĕi Cishu Chūbǎnshè and Sìchuān Cishu Chūbǎnshè; Taiwanese reprint (traditional characters) from 建宏出版社 Jiànhóng Publ. in Taipei is ISBN 957-813-478-9.
- Qiú Xīguī (2000). Chinese Writing. Translation of 文字學概論 by Mattos and Norman. Early China Special Monograph Series No. 4. Berkeley: The Society for the Study of Early China and the Institute of East Asian Studies, University of California, Berkeley. ISBN 1-55729-071-7.