The Value of Dunhuang Manuscript Literatures—Focusing on Language and Writing

The content of Dunhuang manuscript literature covers the political, economic and social and cultural life of China before the 11th century (especially from the 4th to the 10th century). They have largely rewritten the history of Chinese academic culture. Its value is multifaceted. Therefore, it is difficult for us to make a comprehensive judgment on the value of Dunhuang manuscript literature only via a certain article or a book. In the book's preface, we have briefly described the great academic value of Dunhuang literature from a relatively macro perspective. In this chapter, we intend to narrow the scope, and only talk about Dunhuang from the perspective of the author's familiar language and ancient books. The value of the literature will be discussed more deeply. After tasting a piece of sliced meat cooking in the cauldron—know the flavour of sth. by taking one sample, seeing see one ringed spot on a leopard-- have only a limited view, through this "a piece of meat" and "one spot" we will be able to taste the flavor and see the doorway, it may be better than nothing new. Our discussion is carried out in the following four parts: first, the value of philology; second, the value of phonology; third, the value of lexical exegesis; fourth, the value of collation of ancient books.