85 (lacking title); 74; 70; 76 folding leaves. 8vo, orig. wrappers (with some paper flaws, carefully repaired, mostly with text supplied in manuscript), manuscript title label on upper cover of Vol. I. [Jingdu: Ying hua tang Xu shi shu fang, 1746].

First edition of this rare and well-known book, a manual of the Manchu language compiled as talks on different subjects. It is a bilingual handbook of words and phrases, expatiating on each entry in the imperial Qing wen jian in question- and answer- form.

“As one Manchu scholar noted in 1746 [in the present work], ‘the twelve heads have always been the key entryway... More

31; 28; 37; 33 folding leaves. Four vols. 8vo, orig. wrappers, orig. block-printed title labels on upper covers, orig. stitching. Beijing: Ju zhen tang, 1889.

First edition of this important reference for the study of Qing dynasty official traditions and terms; it is anonymously compiled. As Manchu had equal standing during the Qing dynasty, documents, signs, and stele were written in both Manchu and Chinese, a practice which continued through the 18th and 19th centuries. This is a collection of Chinese official terms translated into Manchu, issued in four volumes over a period of several months in 1889:

1. [Ch.]: Ya shu ming mu; [Manchu]: Jurgan yamun-yi gebu. This is a compilation of names of various ministries and other government offices, capitals, palaces, banners, and counties. More

Five vols. 8vo, orig. wrappers (some browning), new stitching. [China] Preface dated 1755, but probably printed in the 19th century.

A reprint, of uncertain date, of the famous Manchu-Chinese edition commissioned and sponsored by the Emperor Qianlong, of The Four Books of Confucianism, which, together with The Five Classics, make up the basic canon of Confucianism. During the Ming and Qing dynasties The Four Books were made the core of the official curriculum for the civil service examinations.

An intellectual and ardent Confucian, Emperor Qianlong ordered standardized, fully annotated translations of The Four Books and The Five Classics into Manchu that... More

56; 54 folding leaves. Two vols. 8vo, orig. wrappers, orig. block-printed title labels in Manchu & Chinese on upper covers, stitched as issued. [Beijing]: Ju zhen tang, 1894.

Second edition, here revised and enlarged by Liu Fengshan for the first time. The first edition appeared in 1885; both it and our revised edition are rare. As made clear by Gorelova (see below), this is one of the most important reference books for the study of Manchu, in which are given Chinese explanations for Manchu language terms, especially xu zi or “empty words.” It contains an alphabetical register of all words and comparative tables for... More