On October 19, the 5th Xushen Cultural Seminar was held in the hometown of Xushen, located in Luoyang, Henan Province. Scholars from both China and abroad gathered to explore the contemporary value and significance of Xushen’s cultural contributions.
Xushen, a renowned scholar from the Eastern Han Dynasty, is famous for his work, “Shuowen Jiezi,” which has earned him the title of “Father of Chinese Characters.” The study of Xushen’s culture and his work is often referred to as “Xushen Studies.”
During the seminar, Xu Fuchang, former Vice Dean of the College of Arts at National Taiwan University, emphasized that the core of Xushen’s culture lies in Chinese character culture. In today’s globalized world, he argued that Xushen’s culture acts as a bridge, fostering cultural exchange and mutual understanding between nations. He believes its significance will continue to grow, further enhancing global cultural integration and harmony.
Professor Baek Jong-yi from Kyungpook National University in South Korea shared insights on the historical role of Chinese characters in Korea. He pointed out that Korea originally lacked its own script, and Chinese characters have played a crucial role in recording Korean history and culture. Presently, there is a resurgence of interest in Chinese characters in Korea, with Xushen’s “Shuowen Jiezi” serving as an invaluable resource akin to an encyclopedia for scholars engaged in research.
He Yuhua, an associate professor at Zhengzhou University’s Center for Chinese Character Civilization, highlighted that “Shuowen Jiezi” preserves a wealth of linguistic resources from the pre-Qin and Han periods, including text, vocabulary, and phonetics. He noted that it serves as a bridge for studying ancient texts like Oracle Bone Script. Furthermore, it is a fundamental source for discussing the origins, structures, uses, and evolution of Chinese characters, providing essential resources for the promotion of character culture knowledge today and serving as a vital medium for international cultural exchange in East Asia.
Li Yuming, the president of the Chinese Lexicography Society, remarked, “’Shuowen Jiezi’ not only engages in knowledge management but also facilitates knowledge reproduction.” He explained how Xushen, through his profound scholarship and keen insight, systematically organized and summarized the principles of character construction, the evolution of character forms, and the interpretation of character meanings.
Li also discussed China’s efforts to explore the development of multimedia dictionaries by integrating traditional lexicography with digital technology. This initiative aims to create new dictionaries that incorporate text, images, audio, video, and other media formats. Additionally, China is actively learning from advanced international lexicographical practices to enhance the global influence and competitiveness of Chinese lexicons.
