Tenrei Banshō Meigi

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Tenrei Banshō Meigi (篆隷万象名義) is a Japanese dictionary of Chinese characters compiled during the early Heian period. It is considered one of the oldest extant Japanese dictionaries and is a significant work in the history of Japanese lexicography.

History

The Tenrei Banshō Meigi was compiled by Kūkai, a prominent Japanese Buddhist monk, scholar, and calligrapher. Kūkai, also known posthumously as Kōbō-Daishi, was the founder of the Shingon school of Buddhism in Japan. The dictionary was completed in 830 CE and was intended to aid Japanese scholars in understanding Chinese texts.

Structure

The Tenrei Banshō Meigi is organized in a manner similar to Chinese dictionaries of the time. It is divided into sections based on the radicals of the characters, which are the components used to categorize and look up characters in Chinese dictionaries. Each entry provides the Chinese character, its pronunciation, and its meaning. The dictionary also includes explanations of the characters' etymology and usage.

Significance

The Tenrei Banshō Meigi is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it reflects the early Heian period's scholarly efforts to understand and assimilate Chinese culture and language. Secondly, it provides valuable insights into the Japanese language and its development during this period. Lastly, it is an important resource for the study of kanji, the logographic characters used in the modern Japanese writing system.

Legacy

The Tenrei Banshō Meigi has influenced subsequent Japanese lexicographical works and remains a valuable resource for scholars studying the history of Japanese and Chinese linguistics. It is also an important artifact in the study of Heian period literature and culture.

See also

• Kūkai
• Shingon Buddhism
• Kanji
• Heian period
• Japanese dictionaries