184
The Shwok Wan, or Etymologicon.
APRIL,
of what they themselves have heaped together, and misled by mere hearsay, do not comprehend either those who are thoroughly versed. in the science of language, or the common rules by which written characters are formed; considering the old methods as odd, and having a partiality for rude forms of speech, they consider their own acquisi- tions as secret and profound mysteries, and themselves as having pe- netrated into the most subtle and refined conceptic of the sages. Meeting, for example, in the works of Tsángkieh with a section about "The youthful hen's receiving commands," they thence declare that said section must have been written by an ancient emperor, though in it are contained rules for those who wish to become divine and im- mortal! Thus conspicuous are their errors. What foolishness! what perversity!
21. In the ancient History it is said, “ I wish to see and under- stand the written forms of the ancients;" meaning that we ought to conform to and cultivate the old forms of written characters, and should not box and drill! Confucius has said, "I would fain obtain the lost forms of the historians! But now, alas, they are irrecoverably gone." Because men will adhere to their own private views, and find fault with what they do not know, and will not be at the trouble of learning from others, all distinction between what is right and what is wrong is naught, while their own subtle explanations and specious phraseology excite doubt and suspicion in the minds of every student.
20. Now such ought not to be the case, because written language is the source from whence we derive all our classical and scientific learning, and the origin of our royal institutions. It is the means by which the men of former generations have handed down their stores of learning to their successors, and by which men of after ages must gain their knowledge of the ancients. Hence the saying, "When correct premises are laid down, then true doctrines will be developed." Now we know that nothing in the world has a higher origin or purpose than written language, and nothing ought to be more carefully preserved from confusion and corruption.
23. On preparing the present arrangement of the seal characters, it has been my endeavor to have the whole work accurately correspond to the ancient forms invented by Sz'chau. With reference both to the separate characters, and their respective explanations, I have ex- tensively investigated the writings of learned men of every order from the highest to the lowest, and have made such a selection of characters as seemed most trustworthy, and sustained by the best authority; and their explanatious have been adopted only after the most thorough
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