Publication of the Kangxi Dictionary
- When
- 1710–1716
- Where
- Qing Dynasty court; Unspecified
- Episodes
- 2
Ordered by the Kangxi Emperor in 1710 to standardize Chinese writing, the Kangxi Dictionary was published in 1716. It contained 47,043 entries and became the authoritative reference for written Chinese characters until the early 20th century.
Episodes
- Compilation Order
The Kangxi Emperor ordered the dictionary's compilation in 1710 to standardize the Chinese writing system and improve upon earlier references.
- Publication
The Kangxi Dictionary was published in 1716, becoming the most authoritative reference for written Chinese characters until the early 20th century.
Background and detail
Background. The Kangxi Emperor ordered the compilation in 1710 to improve upon earlier dictionaries and foster standardization of the Chinese writing system. The project aimed to address complex pronunciations and meanings in classical commentaries, reflecting the emperor's concern for Confucian culture.
Publication. Published in 1716 during the High Qing period, the dictionary was considered the most authoritative reference for written Chinese characters until the early 20th century. The emperor personally chose the term 'zidian', meaning a compendium or standard of correct character forms and pronunciations.
People involved
- Kangxi Emperor · Commissioner
- Zhang Yushu · Editor
- Chen Tingjing · Editor
Sources
- Kangxi Dictionary Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-26
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.