Ming Dynasty Yebing Jing Yun Table Phonology

Yunbiao(《韻表》) which was completed by Ye Bingjing(葉秉敬) in the year of 33, Wanli period Ming Dynasty, is a kind of list of homophones compiled in accordance with Pingshui Rhythm(平水韻). The book contains 30 rhythms with one diagram in it and 30 consonants as well. Each diagram is distinguished by closing and open with -u- and then classified into the upper and down parts with -i-.As the book was finished at the summit of phonological development in Ming Dynasty, therefore it certainly absorbs the newest researching achievements. As the research of Dengyun(等韻) developing rapidly at that time, its analytical method in phonetic system developed further, and it insorbed some new pronunciation, so it is of great value in the history of Phonology. However, there isn't any paper or book which can make full research of it.The paper comes to research the phonological system reflected in Yunbiao using the methods of Fanqie comparison, inner analysis, documents validation and phonetic analysis. The results are as follows:There are 30 consonants in Yunbiao in all. The main characteristics are: reserving all the dark consonants, and the light phenomena in mixing light and dark consonants; Fei(非) and Fu(敷) combining together into Fei, Feng(奉) and Wei(微) separated; Yi(疑) and Yu(喻) being put together into Yu(御), with zero consonant improved; the consonants of mediaeval times, Yun(云) and Yu(余) combining into Wei(微), Xiao(曉)and Xia(匣), Ni(泥) and Niang(娘) mixed; Zhi(知), Zhuang(莊) and Zhang(章) put into Zhao(照); the mixing phenomena of Group Zhao(照組) and Group Jing(精組)appearing, especially in Group Zhuang; Chuan(船) and Chan(禪) mixing partly, Cong(從)and Xie(邪), Chan(禪) and Ri(日) mixing partially; and other mixing phenomena.There are 21 rhythm groups and 66 rhythms. The characteristics are as follows: After the inhale of pronouncing Cuo(撮口呼)there appear four inhales.; [?]and[?] appeared, but Rhythm Er(兒韻) didn't; -m end part and -p,-t,-k reserved totally with -n,-? scarcely mixed; different rhythms in different Yunshe(攝) are put together like Jiang(江攝) and Dang(宕攝), Geng(梗攝) and Zeng(曾攝), Zhi(止攝) and Xie(蟹攝) combined, Zhen(臻攝) and Shan(山攝) mixing partially,Jia(假攝) and Xie(蟹攝) mixing partially too; The third and fourth rink combined, the first and second mixing; Preposition tone -i- appeared in the second open alveolar and glottal tones, and combined with the third and fourth rink, other consonants in the second rank distinct with different vowel, and other mixing phenomena.For consonants are classified as clear and dark the four tones can be divided into eight tones. The voiced rising tone has turned into falling-rising tone partially, but most remains unchanged. There are also mixing phenomena.after discussing Wu dialect and phonological phenomena in Yunbiao, we believe that the rhythms appearing in Yunbiao is the innovation of Pingshui Rhythm(平水韻)in new stage, and it is also inflected by the dialects at that time, which embodied more or less the characteristics of Wu dialect(吳方言)but not typical.