Konkōkenshū
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Konkōkenshū (混効験集; literally "list of mixed effective [words]") is the first dictionary of the Okinawan language and the first of any Ryukyuan language. The dictionary was compiled by a group of seven people under the order of King Shō Tei, dated no later than 1711.[1][2][3]
Konkōkenshū contains many archaic words and expressions remembered by an elder woman of the royal court that served three kings,[1][2][3] and cites works such as the Omoro Sōshi, an Old Okinawan anthology, The Tale of Genji, and The Tales of Ise, which are works written in Early Middle Japanese.[2]
There are two volumes in Konkōkenshū, a kenkan (乾巻) and a konkan (坤巻), corresponding to the hexagrams in I Ching.
The entries in each of the volumes are sorted by thematic order:[2]
- The kenkan includes the following 11 themes: heaven and earth (乾坤) humanity (人倫), seasons (時候), branches of the bodies (支体), types of feelings (気形), herbs (草木), tools (器材), housing (家屋), clothes (衣服), and food and drink/beverages (飲食). This volume contains approximately 380 entries.
- The konkan includes the following 12 themes: heaven and earth (乾坤), the heavenly gods (神祇), humanity (人倫), tools (器材), feelings (気形), herbs (草木), seasons (時候), branches of the bodies (支体), and food and drink/beverages (飲食). This volume contains approximately 720 entries.
According to Lawrence (2015:158), the total number of entries in the Konkōkenshū is 1,148 entries, of which 92 of them are duplicates.[1]
Structure
Manuscripts
Various manuscripts of the Konkōkenshū exist. The Hyōjōsho-bon (評定所本) manuscript is held at the Okinawa Prefectural Museum, and has been thought to be the original text. A facsimile copy of the Hyōjōsho-bon edited by Hokama Shūzen was published by Kadokawa Shoten in 1970.[2][3]