Abstract：Various methods are employed in Xuanying’s Yiqiejing Yinyi (all sutras sound and meaning lexicon) to indicate the “Tong (同)” (be the same) relationship between the headword character and one or more characters, which has almost become a general rule of writing of Xuanying’s Yinyi. Some of the related issues surrounding “Tong” are worth further analysis, as this is not only conducive to a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of the content, origin and essence of “Tong”, but it also facilitates the proper use of the “Tong” materials in Yinyi.
The meaning of “Tong” referred to in Yinyi is multi-layered, multi-dimensional, and multi-faceted. Specifically, the two parties characterized as “Tong” may be two or more characters with different forms due to variant forms, Tongjia (homophone borrowing), cognate, or differentiation (including several mixed relationships), or even two or more words with similar or identical meanings. Regardless of whether the two sides connected by “Tong” are different characters or different words, they are centered on the same semantic meaning: from the perspective of characters, that is, different writing forms recording the same semantic meaning; in terms of the meanings, it means diverse words that express the same semantic meaning. The same semantic meaning is the prerequisite and foundation of the correct linkage of “Tong”.
Xuanying’s Yinyi massively and explicitly uses “Tong” to communicate the relationship between the two parties. On the one hand, it carries on the long-ago Shuowen Jiezi and the later Yu Pian, inheriting their practice of focusing on linking Zitou (the representative character) with other characters, which is the result of the gradual development of the research tradition. On the other hand, it was strongly influenced by the ethos of the times and followed the prevailing academic rules of that time, which was the embodiment and reflection of the new academic methods and new research customs at the turn of the times. Xuanying extensively used “A and B Tong” (which are the same) to indicate that the function and utility of recording words for a certain amount of characters that are related through the “Tong” is identical. The essence of “Tong” in Xuanying’s Yinyi is “the same usage”.
Xuanying’s Yinyi uses “Tong” to connect the two parties, providing a large amount of connected literal materials. This is beneficial to detecting clerical errors and correct literal mistakes in the text, thereby revising the Yinyi. It is helpful in distinguish between words and analyzing their meanings by connecting characters, examining existing academic viewpoints and verifying their accuracy. It can also aid in the compilation of lexicographical books, etc. Undeniably, there are still many problems and even mistakes in the practice of linking the two sides with “Tong” in Yiqiejing Yinyi. The most prominent one is ignoring the semantic identity and associating glyphs with glyphs in isolation. Therefore, taking it as a research material, it is necessary to conduct a concrete analysis of specific problems with a cautious attitude.
真大成. 玄应《一切经音义》“同”述考[J]. 浙江大学学报(人文社会科学版), 0, (): 1-.
Zhen Dacheng. A Study of the Usage of “Tong (同)” in Xuanying’s Yiqiejing Yinyi. JOURNAL OF ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY, 0, (): 1-.
