Manchu-Mongolian and Mongol-Manchurian dictionaries (18–20th centuries, the history of compilation). Part 1

Abstract

Since the introduction of the Qing dynasty in China (1644) its official language became Manchu and all documents were written in Manchu. This called forth the need for dictionaries to unify terminology in official papers and documents as well as to teach multinational subjects the Manchu language. In the 18th century dictionary composition was the most intensive. At that time mono-, bi- and multilingual dictionaries were compiled. Under the Emperor Kangxi’s order the first explanatory Manchu dictionary was published in 1708. The next step was adding of the Mongolian part (published in 1717). Later it was expanded by adding of the Chinese equivalents (1771) and finally with Tibetan and Uyghur parts. The Manchu Emperors supervised these editions and even the preface in edition of 1708 was written by Kangxi himself and later it was repeated in other editions. These editions not only were used during the 18th century but became a source for modern Manchu-Russian, Manchu-English and even Mongolian-Russian and Mongolian explanatory dictionary of Modern Mongolian. Less known are some manuscript Mongolian-Manchu dictionaries preserved in Mongolian collections. Refs 48.

Keywords:

Manchu dictionaries of Qing time, Manchu-Mongolian dictionaries, Mongolian- Manchu dictionaries