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A Brief Introduction to the Hexi Yiyu (河西譯語): Unidentified-Language Glosses in a National Library of China Manuscript
Abstract
The National Library of China holds a unique Qing manuscript of theYiyu (81 folios), copied by Yuan Shoujie at his Zhenjietang. Folios 64–68, bearing the heading “Hexi” are conventionally called the Hexi Yiyu. Discovered in 1981, this sole surviving copy has attracted scholarly attention, yet the language it records remains unidentified. Despite its modest size and the lack of rigorous transcription rules comparable to the Type A Huayi Yiyu, the glossary retains research value. This paper briefly outlines the Huayi Yiyu typology, examines the bibliographical features and research history of the Hexi Yiyu, and provides English translations and IPA transcriptions of its lexical items to facilitate future studies.
Keywords
References
- Apatóczky, Ákos Bertalan. (2009). Yiyu: An indexed critical edition of a sixteenth-century Sino-Mongolian glossary. Global Oriental Publishers-Brill.
- Beijing Library Ancient Books Publishing Editorial Group. (1990). Beijing Library rare ancient books series 6. Beijing: Bibliographic Documents Publishing House.[北京圖書館古籍出版编辑组編:《北京圖書館古籍珍本叢刊6》,北京:書目文獻出版社,1990年]
- Chen, Naixiong. (1983). Altaic language elements in the Hexi Yiyu. Zhongguo Yuyan Xuebao, (1), 233-249. [陈乃雄.《河西译语》中的阿尔泰语言成分[J].中国语言学报,1983(1): 233-249.]
- Dong, Zhenhua & Mao, Xi. (2019). Where is Hexi: Political-geographical changes and the evolution of Hexi’s extent. Lishi Jiaoxue, (3), 52-60. [董振华,毛曦.“河西”何在:政治地理变迁与河西范围演变[J].历史教学,2019(3):52-60.]
- Deng, Wentao. (2022). A study of the Tangut people in the Yuan Dynasty. Lanzhou: Gansu Culture Publishing House. [邓文韬著:《元代唐兀人研究》,兰州:甘肃文化出版社,2022年]
- Endo, Mitsuaki., Takekoshi, Takashi., Sarashina, Shinichi & Feng zheng. (eds.) (2007). Bibliography concerning Huayi Yiyu. Contribution towards Research and Education of Language 13. [遠藤光曉 / 竹越孝 / 更科愼一 / 馮蒸 共編 (2007), 「華夷譯語關係文獻目錄」, 『語學敎育フォ一ラム』 ―第13號―]
- Feng, Zheng. (1981). A survey of Huayi Yiyu. Wenwu, (2), 57-68. [冯蒸.《华夷译语》调查记[J].文物,1981(2):57-68.]
- Feng, Zheng. (1986). A preliminary study of the Hexi Yiyu. Yazhou Wenming Luncong. Chengdu: Sichuan People's Publishing House. [冯蒸.《河西译语》初探[C].《亚洲文明论丛》,四川人民出版社,1986年]
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Old Turkic Language (Orhon, Uyghur, Karahan)
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Publication Date
June 30, 2026
Submission Date
June 22, 2026
Acceptance Date
June 30, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 8 Number: 1
APA
Wuyunnabuqi, W. (2026). A Brief Introduction to the Hexi Yiyu (河西譯語): Unidentified-Language Glosses in a National Library of China Manuscript. International Journal of Old Uyghur Studies, 8(1), 58-103. https://doi.org/10.46614/ijous.1976117
AMA
1.Wuyunnabuqi W. A Brief Introduction to the Hexi Yiyu (河西譯語): Unidentified-Language Glosses in a National Library of China Manuscript. IJOUS. 2026;8(1):58-103. doi:10.46614/ijous.1976117
Chicago
Wuyunnabuqi, Wuyunnabuqi. 2026. “A Brief Introduction to the Hexi Yiyu (河西譯語): Unidentified-Language Glosses in a National Library of China Manuscript”. International Journal of Old Uyghur Studies 8 (1): 58-103. https://doi.org/10.46614/ijous.1976117.
EndNote
Wuyunnabuqi W (June 1, 2026) A Brief Introduction to the Hexi Yiyu (河西譯語): Unidentified-Language Glosses in a National Library of China Manuscript. International Journal of Old Uyghur Studies 8 1 58–103.
IEEE
[1]W. Wuyunnabuqi, “A Brief Introduction to the Hexi Yiyu (河西譯語): Unidentified-Language Glosses in a National Library of China Manuscript”, IJOUS, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 58–103, June 2026, doi: 10.46614/ijous.1976117.
ISNAD
Wuyunnabuqi, Wuyunnabuqi. “A Brief Introduction to the Hexi Yiyu (河西譯語): Unidentified-Language Glosses in a National Library of China Manuscript”. International Journal of Old Uyghur Studies 8/1 (June 1, 2026): 58-103. https://doi.org/10.46614/ijous.1976117.
JAMA
1.Wuyunnabuqi W. A Brief Introduction to the Hexi Yiyu (河西譯語): Unidentified-Language Glosses in a National Library of China Manuscript. IJOUS. 2026;8:58–103.
MLA
Wuyunnabuqi, Wuyunnabuqi. “A Brief Introduction to the Hexi Yiyu (河西譯語): Unidentified-Language Glosses in a National Library of China Manuscript”. International Journal of Old Uyghur Studies, vol. 8, no. 1, June 2026, pp. 58-103, doi:10.46614/ijous.1976117.
Vancouver
1.Wuyunnabuqi Wuyunnabuqi. A Brief Introduction to the Hexi Yiyu (河西譯語): Unidentified-Language Glosses in a National Library of China Manuscript. IJOUS. 2026 Jun. 1;8(1):58-103. doi:10.46614/ijous.1976117