The Application of Chinese Exegesis (Xungu) in Dongba Script Research
This article examines how traditional Chinese exegesis (xungu) has been applied in nearly a century of Dongba pictographic script research, a topic previously neglected by scholars. Focusing on three aspects—structural format, methodology, and terminology—the author analyzes translated/annotated Dongba scriptures (notably the "Nine Translated Moso Classics") and Dongba dictionaries (such as the "Naxi Pictograph Compendium" and "Moso Pictograph Dictionary"). The study shows that Dongba annotation practices parallel classical Chinese commentary traditions (jing-zhu style, contextual glossing), while Dongba dictionaries draw heavily on monographic exegetical works like the Erya and Guangya that comprehensively explain word meanings and sounds. Comparing similarities and differences in format and technique, the author argues this borrowing reflects both scholarly convenience and Chinese exegesis's proven explanatory power. The paper concludes by reflecting on the implications of this cross-tradition methodological transfer for future Dongba script studies.
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