Hongwu Rhymes Study

HongWu Zheng Yun(洪武正韵) is a book of rhymes, compiled by YueShaofeng and Song Lian in 1375, under the imperial order at the beginning of the MingDynasty. In this paper the author, through the exhausted analysis on the phonetic system ofthe book, is about to answer two questions: a.) what the system of initia1 consonants,rhymes and tones of the book is and b.) what the nature of the book is.Thanks to the Fan Qie(反切) Phonetic Notation of the book, we can c1assify its ini- tial consonants and rhymes by the traditional approach of Xi Lian(系联)and the approachof comparison and analysis to make phonetic notation for them.In this Way, we conclude that there are 31 initial consonants, and 70 rhymes alto-gether in the book. We also get to know that there are 4 different tones in classical Chi-nese.According to the characteristics of the initial consonants, rhymes and tones of thebook, we get to know that its phonetic system is compound and its phonetic foundation isthe phonetic system practised in reading in 14th century.In the end of the paper the author provides the figures in which thc copperative stylesof consonants and rhymes are shown clearly.