The legend of the House of Hori says that Tatsunoske Hori, the editor of '英和対訳袖珍辞書' published in 1862, referred at hand to a two-volume English-Chinese dictionary, published in Shanghai to compile and edit his own dictionary. Because the dictionary which he referred to was lost during World War II, there has been speculation as to its identity.
Considering the quality, length, and age of the compilation of the three main English-Chinese dictionaries known to be in existence at the time, and also taking into account various details contained in the legend of the House of Hori, the writer believes that the English-Chinese dictionary referred to in the legend is
English and Chinese Dictionary, by W. H. Medhurst, published in two volumes in Shanghai in 1847-48.
The writer has made a study of various areas of agreement between the two dictionaries, particularly the translations of abstract nouns and adjectives in letters A to H.
The most striking example of agreement between the two dictionaries can be found in the translations of the word 'constitution'. In '英和対訳袖珍辞書', the word 'constitution' is translated as気質, 性体, 政事and国法, while in
English and Chinese Dictionary by W. H. Medhurst, it is translated as気質, 元気, 性体, 法政, 政事and国法, in that order.
Isn't it unlikely that '英和対訳袖珍辞書' would include the same four translations and in the same order as the English-Chinese Dictionary, if the editor, Tatsunoske Hori, hadn't referred to the English-Chinese Dictionary ?
This paper is based on two earlier papers by the writer, one read at the national meeting in October, 1995 and the other at the regular monthly meeting in January, 1996.
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