Text Typology
Juxtaposed Texts

The Juxtaposed text is a subvariety of the Assembled text. If the Jan-Gwo Tsv constituent texts (see under Assembled) had been simply joined together, one after the other, under a single cover title, but with their original structure otherwise preserved, it would qualify as a Juxtaposed text. The examples below seem to have been made in this way: by putting side by side two previously existing texts or text clusters. On the whole, the constituents of Juxtaposed texts tend to retain their separate identities, and the intent of juxtaposing them is presumably to bring them into conjunction for the reader. There may be cases where simply using up available writing space is a factor in the production of what look like intentionally juxtaposed texts (this is known to occur with Near Eastern and Mediaeval European texts).

• Tai Yi Shvng Shwei. Donald Harper has analyzed this Gwodyen work as consisting of two segments: Tai Yi (strips 1-8) and Tyen Dau (strips 9-14). One possibility (compare under Layered) is that both were pre-existing material, brought together by the c0290 compiler. The second (or Tyen Dau) text begins on its own strip of bamboo, and so far as can be told (the preceding strip is broken), the two parts are contiguous but distinct. See also next:
• DDJ/Tai Yi. The third of the three bamboo-slip Gwodyen Dau/Dv Jing florilegia is bound together with the Tai Yi Shvng Shwei text, itself already composite (see previous entry). The DDJ "C" text is not physically blended with the Tai Yi; it begins on a separate strip of bamboo. The two thus together constitute a higher-level Juxtaposed text.
• Hwang-di Sz-shu/DDJ. At the beginning of the silk scroll which contains the later of the two Mawangdwei copies of the Dau/Dv Jing are four separately named texts: Jing-fa, Jing, Chvng, and Dau Ywaen. Only the Jing text mentions Hwang-di (the "Yellow Emperor"), but the conjunction of all four with the DDJ has been thought to represent the Hwang/Lau political Dauism of early Han. It may be noted that the DDJ has a particular propensity for being juxtaposed with other texts in this way.

Classical Chinese Texts is Copyright © 1993- by E Bruce and A Taeko Brooks

14 Mar 2008 / Contact The Project / Exit to CCT Page