A study of traditional bibliography for classical Chinese studies with special reference to definition = Zhuan tong guo xue dao du shu mu yan jiu : yi ding yi wei zhong xin

Abstract

Bibliography always provides useful references for academic purposes. There were also bibliographies for classical Chinese studies education in ancient China. Chinese studies in traditional Chinese society can be divided into several topics, namely Confucian classics, history, philosophy and literature, and these topics are closely related to the preparation of imperial civil examination.

This research aims at revisiting the discussions of previous studies about the properties and definition of the traditional bibliographies for classical Chinese studies, from the perspective of the development of various kinds of bibliography and detailed analysis of each of the seven most frequently mentioned examples in previous works, and then exploring the causes of mistakes in the prevailing genre classification of books related to bibliographies.

This thesis consists of six chapters. Chapter one is a review of previous research concerning traditional bibliographies for classical Chinese studies, and an introduction of the seven major research materials, namely 1. Za Chao《雜鈔》, 2. Chengshi Jiashu Dushu Fennian Richeng《程氏家塾讀書分年日程》, 3. Sibian Lu Jiyao《思辨錄輯 要》, 4. Erqu Ji《二曲集》, 5. Sunshi Citang Shumu《孫氏祠堂書目》, 6. Jingji Juyao《經籍舉要》 and 7. Shumu Da Wen《書目答問》.

Chapter two identifies the problems of neglecting the primary definition of traditional bibliographies for classical Chinese studies, from the arguments against the educational functions of Shumu Da Wen《書目答問》.

Chapter three discusses the connections between bibliographies and Chinese bibliographical research, and how this connection is related to the emergence of the definition problems of traditional bibliographies for classical Chinese studies.

Chapter four clarifies the definition problems by investigating the development of various kinds of bibliographies.

Chapter five is about the problems of book genre classification related to bibliography. The final chapter is a conclusion of this research with a further supplementary discussion about the importance of the studies of the traditional bibliographies for classical Chinese studies.