Features of First Dictionaries of Chinese and Manchu Languages in Russia (the Example of Two Manuscripts from the Collection of the National Library of Russia)

Abstract

This paper is devoted to analysis of two dictionaries, kept in Manuscript department of Russian national library. First of them is Manchu-Russian dictionary by Fyodor Baksheev, compiled in the 1776. Second is “Manchu-Chinese lexicon translated into Russian” — Manchu-Chinese-Russian dictionary by unknown author. “Manchu-Chinese lexicon, translated into Russian” is compiled in appliance to category dictionaries- dictionaries type in classical China. Category dictionaries compiled of chapters, contained words, consolidated by one meaning. One of first category dictionaries is a famous dictionary “Erya”, compiled in Jin period. First bilingual category dictionaries were compiled in the XI century. There were dictionaries of khitan, tangut and jurchen languages. There are no mentions “Manchu-Chinese lexicon translated into Russian” in sinologist works. Detailed analysis shows us that this dictionary is based on first Chinese-Manchu dictionary “Textual mirror of Chinese and Manchu voices”, which is category dictionary too. In Manchu-Russian dictionary by Fyodor Baksheev words are grouped in alphabet order, what is more comfortable for European users. It was consider that despite this dictionary has not categorised chapters like in category dictionaries, it is obviously that category dictionaries made large influence on Baksheevs work. The evidence of that is that every meaning and its denominative are grouped in special order. Manchu-Russian dictionary by F. Baksheev had this tendency too. Also, in appliance to similar decor of both dictionaries manuscripts it is possible that they were made by same group of people.