清末百科全書初探

Initial Approach to the Encyclopedia in the Late Ch'ing Dynasty

鍾少華(Zhong Shao-hua)

《中國文化研究所學報》 18卷 (1987/01) Pp. 139-160

https://doi.org/10.29708/JCS.CUHK.198701_18.0007

並列摘要

This subject has long been remained a gap in professional research. The author tries to devote all the data of his recent research intending to bring attention to the study of Chinese Encyclopedia of modern times. In the first decade of 20th century, China publish twenty odd kinds of synthetically encyclopedic books, which are not ＂Lei-shu 類書＂ (reference books with material taken from various sources and arranged according to subjects). These books are similar to the European encyclopedia in layout and contents. Among them, the bigger one has hundreds of volumes and millions of words. The author explores comprehensively the sources, category, layout, characteristics of contents, editors, authors of preface and each item, and translators. There are also the author's comments on the problem of ＂disappearance＂ of these books in the history of modern China. As data, these books are of great value in research work. Furthermore they provide an important evidence of cultural exchange between China and the west in modern times, and contribute greatly to the cause of modernization of China. Up to now, as reference books, they still remain helpful and useful. The author holds that some of them should be announced for reprinting.