| Abstract |
Mr. Hsing-Wu Yu had devoted all his time to researching in ancient inscriptions, especially the characters of oracle bone inscriptions, in which ha had gained the most successful achievement. Mr. Yu had researched and clarified the meanings of oracle bone inscriptions for more than 300 characters, which had earned him the reputation of the leading authority on the research of oracle bone inscriptions. I will introduce Mr. Yu′s brief biographical sketch, his writings and his studying attitude. Secondly, I will conclude Mr. Yu′s methodology of textual research in oracle bone inscriptions based on his book “釋林,” a general interpretation of oracle bone inscriptions of oracle bone inscriptions, in which he outlined nine methods: 1. Comparison, 2. Analysis by indirect evidence, 3. Deduction by examples, 4. Textual research from historical events, 5. Double proofs, 6. Analysis and identification by synthesis with various articles, 7. Textual research from foreign culture, 8. Syntax reverse, 9. Transformation of the parts of speech. I will also expound Mr. YU′s contribution to the research of oracle bone inscriptions from the following six points: 1. His understanding of the politics and society in Shang (商) Dynasty, 2. Pushing historical evidences ahead, 3. Correcting the fallacy of the etymological dictionary “Shuo Wen” (說文), 4. Rectifying the errors of classic books, 5. Research for the origin of words, 6. Clarifying the features of oracle bone inscriptions. |
