Progressive Exercises in the Chinese Written Language #265943

At the present day most students of Chinese, before applying themselves to the Literary or Documentary Language, devote a good deal of time to the Spoken Language, which they learn with the aid of manuals and exercise books. In so doing they acquire the knowledge of a considerable number of written Chinese words, or characters. Thus equipped, they are able satisfactorily to commence their attack upon whatever book they may choose for the purpose of initiating themselves into the mysteries of Literary Chinese. But very different is the position of the learner who wishes to begin his studies with the written language, and sets to work on, perhaps, the Classics, or, perhaps, a collection of Despatches, with absolutely no knowledge of any characters beyond the radicals. He is bewildered by the number of new words that he meets with in every line. He is not merely unable to grasp properly the construction of the sentences before him; but he is also hindered by the multiplicity of strange forms from learning even the characters themselves. It is specially to aid the beginner who wishes to go straight to the literary language, that these Exercises have been compiled; though it is hoped that other students may be able to work through them with advantage.