Philology
 Gallery of Philologists

Philology has its heroes, its contributors, its recognizable names. A formal pantheon of philology, whether in Europe or in China, would require more erudition than the present author can command. These pages (arranged in rough chronological order, within each tradition) should instead be thought of as a sample: not quite random, but far from authoritative. They are included here chiefly to give beginners a sense of reality, and a feeling of companionship across the ages.

The Gallery constitutes a second introduction to the Philology section. Its profiles may be read for their human interest, but also for the sample solved problems on which many of them focus. Our suggestion for a systematic approach to unsolved problems of the same kind is provided in the rest of the Philology section. Here, we are in the domain of what has been done by others, and we can watch them doing it.

Western Tradition

Chinese Tradition

  • Northerm Mencians (c0300-0250)
  • School of Sywndz (c0275-0238)
  • Pseudo Dz-sya (c0209)
  • Wang Chung
  • Lyou Jr-ji
  • Lyou Dzung-ywaen
  • Sung Lyen
  • Hu Ying-lin
  • Gu Yen-wu (1613-1682)
  • Yau Ji-hvng
  • Yen Rwo-jyw (1636-1704)
  • Fang Bau (1668-1749)
  • Chywæn Dzu-wang (1705-1755)
  • Jau Yi-ching (1712?-1764?), see Chywæn Dzu-wang
  • Dai Jvn (1742-1777), see Chywaen Dzu-wang
  • Tswei Shu (1740-1814)
  • Rwan Ywaen (1764-1849)
  • Wang Gwo-wei (1877-1927)
  • Lyang Chi-chau (1873-1929)
  • Gu Jye-gang (1893-1980)
  • Bernhard Karlgren (1889-1978)
  • George A Kennedy (1901-1960)
  • A C Graham (1919-1991)

For further acquaintance with the personal side of European philology, viewers may consult the historical section of Metzger, and the works of Grafton, Hall, Pfeiffer, and Wilamowitz-Moellendorff. For a sense of the Ching Dynasty milieu in which some of the relevant Chinese scholarship arose, see Elman.

Back to Contents Page

1 Dec 2005 / Contact The Project / Exit to Philology Page