From Qièyùn to Guǎngyùn

Abstract

The Qièyùn Series rime books (Qièyùn-xì yùnshū 切韻系韻書), not only the two complete editions, the Kānmiù Bǔquē Qièyùn 刊謬補缺切韻 (also known as Wángyùn 王韻) and Guǎngyùn 廣韻, but also many other fragments, are of great importance in studying Middle Chinese phonology. This paper aims to comprehensively introduce the materials of the Qièyùn Series rime books, from the original Qièyùn 切韻 to later revised editions until the Five Dynasties (Wǔdài 五代), including essential research on them. And finally, by using specific examples, this article summarized the development from the Qièyùn 切韻 to the Guǎngyùn 廣韻 through the four-century-long history of revision and extension.