A Comparative Study Of Shuowenjiezi· Chong Radical And Erya·Shichong

Chinese characters are the written symbols for recording the words, there is a certain relationship between Chinese characters and the words and the meanings of them. Erya is the earliest word book of China, while Shuowenjiezi(hereinafter referred to as Shuowen)is the first dictionary about Chinese characters, the two books appeared not far from each other, but there are many comparable places. Shuowen · Chong Radical contains 153 characters, 15 variations and 7 attached new characters, while Erya· Shichong involved148 words all together. The characters and words related with chong in the two books are different not only in the number of terms, but also in the interpretation and interpretation methods. There is an relationship of inheritance and development between the two books.The original meaning of Chong is snake and later it extended to represent almost all animals, including humans. Chong Radical has a complex word system, including words about snakes, insects, birds, monsters, etc. Shichong has a relatively simple meaning system mainly about insects.Some of the words recorded in both books are interlinked in interpretation, and some are totally different; Some words recorded in Shichong did not appear in Chong Radical,some appears in its interpretation of the characters. There are 84 characters in Chong Radical does not appear in Shichong and six words about Chong in The Book of Songs are not found in the two books.Chong Radical recorded characters about 40 different type things and used seven methods of interpretation including synonymous explanation, feature description,categories classifying, analogy, quotation, shape analysis and relationship illustration;Shichong recorded words about insects of 25 different categories and used five methods of interpretation including synonymous enumeration, similar enumeration, feature description, contradistinction and relationship illustration. Some words used integrated methods to explain. In general, Chong Radical has inherited and developed the interpretation and interpretation methods of Shichong and has a increased number of characters with special cultural implications.