Yunjing

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The Yunjing (Chinese: 韻鏡/韵镜; pinyin: Yùnjìng; Wade-Giles: Yün-ching; "Rime Mirror") is the oldest existing Chinese rime table. Current versions of the Yunjing date back to the 1161 and 1203 editions published by Zhang Linzhi (張麟之; Chang Lin-chi).

In theory, the Yunjing is a two-dimensional representation of the Middle Chinese phonological system. The preface lists 36 initial consonants (shengmu 聲母/声母 "sound mothers"); see the (Chan) link below. The Yunjing contains 43 charts (zhuan 轉 "turns; revolutions"), each of which tabulates combinations of a particular final rime (in rows) with various initials (in columns), in up to four tones. A detailed description of this native Chinese phonological system can be found at the rime table article. For further information about the Yunjing, see Coblin (1996) and Pulleyblack (1998).

[edit] See also

• Rime dictionary
• Qiyin lüe

[edit] References

• Coblin, W. South. 1996. "Northwest reflections on the Yunjing." T’oung Pao 82: 349-363.
• Pulleyblank, Edwin G. 1998. "Qieyun and Yunjing: The essential foundation for Chinese historical linguistics." Journal of the American Oriental Society 118.2, 200-216.

[edit] External links

• Yunjing: 36 Initials, Marjorie Chan