The (1066) ''Leipian'' 類篇 is a Chinese dictionary compiled by

Song dynasty The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the rest ...

(960-1279) lexicographers under the supervision of chancellor

Sima Guang Sima Guang (17 November 1019 – 11 October 1086), courtesy name Junshi, was a Chinese historian, politician, and writer. He was a high-ranking Song dynasty scholar-official who authored the monumental history book ''Zizhi Tongjian''. Sima was ...

. It contains 31,319 character head entries, more than twice as many as the 12,158 in the (c. 543) ''

Yupian The ''Yupian'' (; "Jade Chapters") is a c. 543 Chinese dictionary edited by Gu Yewang ( 顧野王; Ku Yeh-wang; 519–581) during the Liang dynasty. It arranges 12,158 character entries under 542 radicals, which differ somewhat from the original ...

'', and included many new characters created during the Tang (618-907) and Song dynasties. ''Leipian'' entries are arranged by a 544- radical system adapted from the 540 radicals of the classic (121) ''

Shuowen Jiezi ''Shuowen Jiezi'' () is an ancient Chinese dictionary from the Han dynasty. Although not the first comprehensive Chinese character dictionary (the ''Erya'' predates it), it was the first to analyze the structure of the characters and to give t ...

''.

Text

The dictionary title combines two common Chinese words: ''lèi'' 類 " category; kind; type; class" and ''piān'' 篇 "piece of writing; sheet (of paper); chapter". ''Piān'' 篇, written with the " bamboo radical" ⺮ and ''biǎn'' 扁 "flat" phonetic, originally meant " bamboo slip (for writing)", comparable with ''biān'' 編 "weave; organize; compile" with the " silk radical" 糸—seen in the (1726) ''Pianzi leipian'' 駢字類編 "Classified Collection of Phrases and Literary Allusions" dictionary title. English translations include ''Dictionary of Character Sounds'', ''Collection of Categorized Characters'', ''The Classified Chapters'', and ''The Categories Book''. The ''Leipian'' text consists of 15 books (册), each subdivided into 3 parts, for a total of 45 volumes (卷). The 31,319 character head entries are organized by a 544-radical system. Each entry gives the character in Small Seal Script (following the ''Shuowen jiezi'' format), the pronunciation in the ''

fanqie ''Fanqie'' ( zh, t= 反切, p=fǎnqiè) is a method in traditional Chinese lexicography to indicate the pronunciation of a monosyllabic character by using two other characters, one with the same initial consonant as the desired syllable and one ...

'' system, definition, and exegesis. The ''Leipian'' also notes variant characters, alternate pronunciations, and multiple meanings.

History

Emperor Renzong of Song (r. 1022-1063) commissioned the ''Leipian'' character dictionary project in 1039 and it was completed in 1066. There were four chief editors, three of whom died before completing the dictionary: Wang Zhu 王洙 (997-1057), Hu Xiu 胡宿 (995-1067), Zhang Cili 張次立 (1010-1063), and Fan Zhen 范鎮 (1007-1088). Emperor Renzong also ordered the compilation of the (1037) ''

Jiyun The ''Jiyun'' (''Chi-yun''; ) is a Chinese rime dictionary published in 1037 during the Song Dynasty. The chief editor Ding Du (丁度) and others expanded and revised the '' Guangyun''. It is possible, according to Teng and Biggerstaff (1971:14 ...

'', which was a phonologically arranged rime dictionary intended to complement the ''Leipian'' character dictionary. The ''Leipian'' PrefaceTr. . says all phonetically related characters are included in the ''Jiyun'' while all formally related ones are included in the ''Leipian''. The historian and chancellor Sima Guang (1019-1086) carried out the final editing on the expanded ''Jiyun'' and the ''Leipian'', and in 1067, he submitted the printed versions of both dictionaries to

Emperor Yingzong of Song Emperor Yingzong of Song (16 February 1032 – 25 January 1067), personal name Zhao Shu, was the fifth emperor of the Song dynasty of China. His original personal name was Zhao Zongshi but it was changed to "Zhao Shu" in 1062 by imperial dec ...

(r. 1063-1067). At that time, the ''Jiyun'' and ''Leipian'' were the most complete

reference works A reference work is a work, such as a paper, book or periodical (or their electronic equivalents), to which one can refer for information. The information is intended to be found quickly when needed. Such works are usually ''referred'' to ...

in the history of Chinese

lexicography Lexicography is the study of lexicons, and is divided into two separate academic disciplines. It is the art of compiling dictionaries. * Practical lexicography is the art or craft of compiling, writing and editing dictionaries. * Theoreti ...

References

* Footnotes {{Dictionaries of Chinese Chinese dictionaries Lexicography Song dynasty literature 11th-century Chinese books