Jin Guangping
Encyclopedia
Jin Guangping or Aisin-Gioro Hengxu (1899–1966) was a Chinese
linguist
of Manchu
ethnicity who is known for his studies of the Jurchen
and Khitan
languages and scripts.
(Aisin-Gioro Yongqi). In 1911, shortly before the fall of the Qing Dynasty
, he inherited the title Duke Defender of the Realm 鎮國公. After the Republic of China
was established he changed his name from Aisin-Gioro Hengxu to Jin Guangping. His son, Jin Qizong
, and granddaughter, Aisin-Gioro Ulhicun
, are both renowned scholars of Manchu and Jurchen.
Jin died in 1966, during the Cultural Revolution
.
. During the 1920s and 1930s a number of memorial inscriptions in unknown scripts had been discovered, but it was not clear what the relationship between these scripts was, and how the newly discovered scripts corresponded to the "large" and "small" Khitan and "large" and "small" Jurchen scripts that were mentioned in the histories of the Liao and Jin dynasties. In 1957 Jin determined that the memorials of Emperor Xingzong of Liao
and his consort, and of Emperor Daozong of Liao
and his consort, were written in a phonetic script influenced by the Old Uyghur alphabet
, whereas the memorial of Xiao Xiaozhong which had been discovered in 1951 was written in a logographic script based on Chinese characters. He identified the former script as the Large Khitan script and the latter script as the Small Khitan script, an identification that is now widely accepted.
In 1962 Jin further identified the script used in the Sino-Jurchen Vocabulary of the Bureau of Interpreters (Nǚzhēn Yìyǔ 女真譯語) and on a number of Jin Dynasty monuments as the "large" Jurchen script.
He also collaborated with his son, Jin Qizong, on a comprehensive study of the Jurchen script which was published in 1964.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
linguist
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
of Manchu
Manchu
The Manchu people or Man are an ethnic minority of China who originated in Manchuria . During their rise in the 17th century, with the help of the Ming dynasty rebels , they came to power in China and founded the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which...
ethnicity who is known for his studies of the Jurchen
Jurchen language
Jurchen language is an extinct language. It was spoken by Jurchen people of eastern Manchuria, the creators of the Jin Empire in the northeastern China of the 12th–13th centuries. It is classified as a Southwestern Tungusic language.-Writing:...
and Khitan
Khitan language
The Khitan language is a now-extinct language once spoken by the Khitan people . Khitan is generally deemed to be genetically linked to the Mongolic languages. It was written using two mutually exclusive writing systems known as the Khitan large script and the Khitan small script...
languages and scripts.
Biography
Jin was a sixth generation descendant of Emperor Qianlong's fifth son, Prince RongchunYongqi, Prince Rong
Aisin-Gioro Yongqi was the fifth son of the Qianlong Emperor, and bore the title "Prince Rong" . His mother was Noble Consort Yu, a member of the Haigiya clan.-Portrayal In Dramas:...
(Aisin-Gioro Yongqi). In 1911, shortly before the fall of the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
, he inherited the title Duke Defender of the Realm 鎮國公. After the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
was established he changed his name from Aisin-Gioro Hengxu to Jin Guangping. His son, Jin Qizong
Jin Qizong
Jin Qizong or Aisin-Gioro Qizong was a Chinese historian and linguist of Manchu ethnicity who is known for his studies of the Manchu and Jurchen languages...
, and granddaughter, Aisin-Gioro Ulhicun
Aisin-Gioro Ulhicun
Aisin-Gioro Ulhicun is a Chinese linguist of Manchu ethnicity who is known for her studies of the Manchu, Jurchen and Khitan languages and scripts. She is also known as a historian of the Liao and Jin dynasties...
, are both renowned scholars of Manchu and Jurchen.
Jin died in 1966, during the Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
.
Khitan and Jurchen studies
Jin was a pioneer in the research on the Khitan scripts and Jurchen scriptJurchen script
Jurchen script was the writing system used to write Jurchen language, the language of the Jurchen people who created the Jin Empire in the northeastern China of the 12th–13th centuries. It was derived from the Khitan script, which in turn was derived from Chinese...
. During the 1920s and 1930s a number of memorial inscriptions in unknown scripts had been discovered, but it was not clear what the relationship between these scripts was, and how the newly discovered scripts corresponded to the "large" and "small" Khitan and "large" and "small" Jurchen scripts that were mentioned in the histories of the Liao and Jin dynasties. In 1957 Jin determined that the memorials of Emperor Xingzong of Liao
Emperor Xingzong of Liao
Emperor Xingzong of Liao , born Yelü Zongzhen , was an emperor of the Liao Dynasty. He reigned from 25 June 1031 to 28 August 1055....
and his consort, and of Emperor Daozong of Liao
Emperor Daozong of Liao
Emperor Daozong of Liao , born Yelü Hongji or Yehlu Hongji , was an emperor of the Liao dynasty, a kingdom of the Khitan people in what is now northeastern China. Succeeding his father, Xingzong, in 1055, Daozong ruled until he was murdered in 1101. He was succeeded by his grandson, Tianzuodi...
and his consort, were written in a phonetic script influenced by the Old Uyghur alphabet
Old Uyghur alphabet
The Old Uyghur alphabet was used for writing the Old Uyghur language, a variety of Old Turkic spoken in the Tarim basin, which is an ancestor of the modern Uyghur language. It was descendant of the Sogdian alphabet, used for texts with Buddhist, Manichaean and Christian content for 700–800 years in...
, whereas the memorial of Xiao Xiaozhong which had been discovered in 1951 was written in a logographic script based on Chinese characters. He identified the former script as the Large Khitan script and the latter script as the Small Khitan script, an identification that is now widely accepted.
In 1962 Jin further identified the script used in the Sino-Jurchen Vocabulary of the Bureau of Interpreters (Nǚzhēn Yìyǔ 女真譯語) and on a number of Jin Dynasty monuments as the "large" Jurchen script.
He also collaborated with his son, Jin Qizong, on a comprehensive study of the Jurchen script which was published in 1964.
Works
- 1957. "Jǐnxī Xīgūshān Qìdānwén mùzhì shìyì" 錦西西孤山契丹文墓誌試釋 [Attempt to interpret the Khitan writing on the memorial from Xigushan in Jinxi]; in Kǎogǔ Xuébào 考古學報 [Journal of Archaeology] 1957 no.2 pages 83–84.
- 1962. "Cóng Qìdān dàxiǎozì dào Nǚzhēn dàxiǎozì" 從契丹大小字到女真大小字 [From Khitan large and small scripts to Jurchen large and small scripts]; in Nèiměnggǔ Dàxué Xuébào 內蒙古大學學報 [Journal of Inner Mongolia University] 1962 no.2.
- 1964. With Jin Guangping. Nǚzhēn Yǔyán Wénzì Yánjiū 女真語言文字研究 [Study of Jurchen Language and Script]. Reprint, Beijing: Wenwu Chubanshe, 1980.
- 1996. With Jin Qizong and Aisin Gioro. Àixīnjuéluóshì Sāndài Mǎnzhōuxué Lúnjí 愛新覺羅氏三代滿洲學論集 [Collected Essays on Manchu Studies by Three Generations of the Aisin-Gioro Family]. Yuanfang Press.
- 2002. With Jin Qizong and Aisin Gioro. Àixīnjuéluóshì Sāndài Ā'ěrtàixué Lúnjí 愛新覺羅氏三代阿爾泰學論集 [Collected Essays on Altaic Studies by Three Generations of the Aisin-Gioro Family]. Meizandō.