Source: CCTV.com

11-30-2006 08:24

An ancient standard of the Chinese language, the "Kangxi Dictionary", has been discovered. Unlike other versions, this one is carved in wood. And it is the first copy found to be made outside the imperial court.

In feudal times, important reference books were named after the emperor. This dictionary was compiled under Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty. Almost 300 years old, it is divided into 39 volumes.

The Kangxi Dictionary was the standard for Chinese characters during the 18th and 19th centuries. The emperor ordered its first edition in 1710. And it was published six years later.

The dictionary contains nearly 50,000 characters. And almost every entry contains pronunciation, meaning, usage and variations.

The Kangxi Dictionary is available in many forms, from antique editions to modern hardcover reprints, and even digital versions.

 

Editor:Lu Yuying