6th International Symposium Oriental Studies

23 The 6 th International Symposium on Oriental Ancient Documents Studies Chun Hua Chinese-Foreign Language Glossaries ( Huayi yiyu ) Compiled in the Qianlong Period (1736–1795) Chinese-foreign language glossaries refer to collections of glossaries ( yiyu ), collections of words ( zazi ) and text books ( laiwen ). The title “Chinese- Foreign Language Glossaries” is not used in any of the books. In the 1930s, the German scholar Walter Fuchs discovered this type of language learning reference books and called it the “New” chinesisch-fremdsprachigen Glossarreihe ( Chinese-Foreign Language Glossaries ). Later, Japanese scholars also started to study these books and used this definition. The Glossaries are divided into four categories. The “glossaries” contain words used by ethnic groups in and outside China, their Chinese translation and transliteration, which are important sources for today's study of oral andwritten languages that were used by ethnic groups in ancient China and contemporary foreign countries. Over a hundred of such glossaries are currently kept in the collection of various institutions in China and abroad. In the Palace Museum Library, there are a total of forty-two types including seventy-one volumes of Chinese-Xifan , Chinese-Chuanfan , Chinese-Guoluo language glossary ; Indian Sutra of Reciting the True Names ( Xitian zhenshiming jing ); Vernacular of Ryukyu ; Chinese-Qingyuan Chieftaincy (Guangxi), Chinese-Taiping Chieftaincy (Guangxi) Language Glossary ; Chinese-Cheli , Chinese-Mengmian , Chinese-Mengma , Chinese-Boyi , Chinese-Gengma , Chinese-Zhenkang , Chinese-Mengmao , Chinese-Lujiang , Chinese-Nandian (the county of Lianghe) , Chinese-Wandian , Chinese-Mangshi , Chinese- Menglian , Chinese-Qianya Language Glossary ; Chinese-Siamese , Chinese- Burmese , Chinese-Sultanate of Sulu Language Glossary ; Chinese-English , Chinese-French , Chinese-Italian , Chinese-German , Chinese-Portuguese , and Chinese-Latin Glossary . Though their titles (as written on the cover of these books) are not entirely unified. The variety of titles include “translated glossaries”, “glossaries”, “languages”, “books”, “classics”, etc. These books all bear purple cover made of coarse purple cloth and bright yellow paper title slip, on which the Chinese book titles were inscribed. The length, style,