Assistant Professor LI, Yuan

Assistant Professor LI, Yuan

Research on early Japanese dictionaries from the perspective of digital humanities

In Japan, ancient documents have been preserved and passed down as high-quality manuscripts since the Nara period.  Early Japanese dictionaries are significant resources in Japanese linguistics, Chinese linguistics, as well as in Buddhist studies.  However, most have been transmitted as manuscripts.  These manuscripts include numerous variant characters, and inevitable transcription errors, making them difficult to decipher.  Furthermore, the current situation indicates a delay in their digitization process.

Considering the diversity and complexity of early Japanese dictionaries, this study aims to construct a comprehensive image dataset of all character forms and a structured text database for dictionaries profoundly influenced by the Gyokuhen(Yupian) series of dictionaries, including the original Gyokuhen, Tenreibanshomeigi, and Daikouekikai Gyokuhen.  The character description systems of these three dictionaries, each developed in different regions and eras from the same root, will be analyzed meticulously.  The objective is to elucidate the overall picture of the character description systems, their mutual differences, and their evolution within each dictionary.

Moreover, I envisage extending this methodology to other premodern dictionaries from subsequent periods, aiming to establish a foundation for the digitization and open-access to ancient manuscript dictionaries.