edition.[1] The only additional matter is a list of errata (考證) in 24 pên, beginning with the 目錄 and ending with the 雜飲器部 (XXXII, 198).
The second reprint was undertaken by a Chinese syndicate, and carried out by the firm of Major Brothers in Shanghai, leaden movable type being employed, and the process of printing lasting three years, from 1885 to 1888.The Second Reprint. By greatly reducing the size of the type, though not so much as to be trying to ordinary eyesight, it was found possible to issue the whole in 1,620 pên, measuring about 19.5 × 13 cm. Copies of this handy little reprint are in the possession of several sinologues and public institutions both in Europe and America.
The present Index, as already stated, consists primarily in a translation and alphabetisation of the titles of the 6,109 subheads, together with the Chinese of the same, and reference to the 典 section and 卷 chüan or book.Plan of the Index. The numbering of the chüan starts afresh in each of the 32 sections, while the subheads are not numbered. Reference to the chüan, however, thanks to the list of contents standing at the head of each and the device of catchwords on the edge of the leaf, enables one to discover any required subhead almost instantaneously. I have aimed in every case at giving a clue to the real contents of the subhead rather than a literal rendering of its title. This was necessary, though greatly increasing the labour of preparation, because the Chinese headings as they stand are often obscure, if not unintelligible, to any except a practised scholar.[2]
In addition to these main entries, a very large number of cross-references have been inserted. These may be classified as follows:—
Cross-references.(1) Cross-references from the transliterated form (Wade's orthography) of the Chinese heading, the characters being also given. This has been done in the case of all names of foreign countries, books, animals, and plants, except the very commonest; also when the Chinese form is the more familiar, or there is no good English equivalent. For example, 'I Ching. 易經. See "Book of Changes"'; 'Hsün-chio. 勛爵. See Rank conferred for merit'.
(2) Other cross-references of form, or of synonyms. E.g. 'Broach. See Baroach;' 'Water-lily. See Lotus'.
(3) As a considerable number of entries consist of double-barrelled phrases, such as 'Kindness and malice', 'Uncles and nephews', cross-references are given from the second member.
(4) In a few cases, where a noteworthy part of the subhead does not actually appear in the title. E.g., under 'Gongs', one is referred to 'Musical Instruments miscellaneous, XXIX, 136'. Such cross-references may be multiplied with advantage by any one who has occasion to use the work frequently.
(5) Full cross-references are supplied to the subdivisions of the lengthy 部 Medicine. E.g. 'Cold, catching. 傷寒門 See Medical science, XVII, 355-378'.
- ↑ The second edition appears to have been printed on white paper only. All the above copies, at any rate, are on white paper, and also two odd volumes, belonging to the same edition, in the British Museum and Cambridge University Library. The only white-paper copy of the first edition known to me is the incomplete one at Paris.
- ↑ E.g. 聖壽,風節,三恪,留守.
