Dunhuang Monastic Ledger and Rhyme Dictionary Prefaces

...the refinement was completed, and the previous inaccuracies were removed. These decisions were finalized by the eight scholars, including Xiao Gai and Yan Zhitui. Wei Yanyuan spoke to me, Fayan, saying: "Earlier, when we were debating the distinctions distinctions, why did you not record our words as we spoke? Our small group has already settled the matter."

I, Fayan, then took a brush under the light of a candle and made a rough record. I inquired broadly and consulted many sources, and only then did the essence of the work emerge. Thereupon, I added further specialized sections. I did not wait for a minor official post; instead, for over ten years, I had no leisure to compile it. Now, having returned to my civilian clothes A metaphor for retiring or not being in active government service, I use it to privately instruct my disciples. Whenever there is a piece of writing, one must take up the brush. Living in seclusion in the mountains and wilds, my communications with the outside world were cut off. In my place of burning incense and storage, there was no one to ask for guidance. Those who have died are now on a different path from the living, leaving me with only the empty sigh that their work might have been completed; as for those still living, our difference in status and etiquette has severed our correspondence.

Thus, I have used the various family phonologies and ancient and modern character dictionaries, along with what I previously recorded, to determine the standards and create the Qieyun Qieyun; a foundational Chinese rhyme dictionary compiled in 601 AD to standardize the pronunciation of characters for literary and civil service exam use in five volumes. It splits hairs original: 剖析毫釐; to analyze with extreme precision and distinguishes the smallest measures of grain. Why bother "weeping over the jade" A reference to Bian He, who wept when his jade was unrecognized; here it means the work's value is intrinsic? It has not yet gained "suspended gold" A reference to Lü Buwei, who offered gold to anyone who could improve his book; here it suggests the work is already refined. It shall be stored in the famous mountains, as was the custom of the ancients.

My words are significant, yet they are spoken with a humble mouth; today I count myself among those like Yang Xiong A famous Han Dynasty scholar known for his linguistic works. I do not shout that I, a mere youth, have acted arbitrarily; rather, I am transmitting the forgotten intentions of many worthies. How would I dare to impose this upon the world? I simply wish for it not to leave my own household.

Written in the year of Xinyou, the first year of the Renshou era of the Great Sui Dynasty 601 AD.

Nuyan The style name of Guo Zhixuan says: This work is the most ancient and refined of its kind; nothing can be added to it. However, it has been transmitted for a long time, and the characters have lost their original forms. A mistake of a single brushstroke can lead one a thousand miles astray. One might see the character for "Wu" and read it as "meat" A reference to characters that look similar when poorly written, without investigating the cause. I have noticed that "flying yak" should certainly follow the element for "evening." When the text is abbreviated, errors multiply from there. If there is no standard to rely upon, all other works will follow in this error.

One must study this during the hours of carrying the scriptures and in the leisure time after "bathing in the rain." I have investigated its purity and tangles, weighing its successes and failures. Just as "silver hooks" appear in the red gates, or like the "pigs of Jin" forming a herd References to common textual corruptions where characters look like other things, and "fish of Lu" filling the lines A famous idiom for clerical errors where the character for "fish" (魚) is mistaken for the name of the state "Lu" (魯), I have thoroughly examined the golden scripts and returned to the "Stone Canal" A reference to the imperial library. I have briefly noted the meanings and recorded the origins. Regarding explanation the origins, some characters have two forms for one meaning, which I could not detail fully. Where several characters are the same, I have chosen the best. Do not think that because there are additions or deletions, the essence is different. Every dot and every stroke is supported by distinct evidence. Where there are miscellaneous categories, I have provided definitions and explanations to ensure they are transmitted without error. May this be equal to called the standard.

Written in the year of Dingchou, the second year of the Yifeng era of the Great Tang Dynasty 677 AD, by Guo Zhixuan, former Assistant of Dadao County in Feizhou, who has collected these remnants and corrected them. I have further used red paper to add three hundred characters. For those new additions that lack a "fanqie" fanqie; a traditional method of indicating the pronunciation of a Chinese character by using two other characters pronunciation, they all follow the sound of the character above.

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I have heard that when writing first arose, phonology was then created. Cangjie The legendary four-eyed inventor of Chinese characters and the Erya The oldest surviving Chinese dictionary were the leaders, followed by the chanting of the Classic of Poetry. Then there were works like the Zitong, Zilin, Yunji, and Yunlue. These writings are quite numerous, but their successes and failures are rarely distinguished. Only Master Lu's Qieyun has flourished in the world. However, even "Sui pearls" A legendary priceless pearl have flaws, and "Jade of the He" still has cracks. There are errors in the commentary, and the text has omissions and mistakes. If it is not corrected, how can it be discussed?

Our State has set aside military affairs to cultivate the civil arts, and Confucianism is practiced on a grand scale. The Jixian Academy has been established...