A Study on the Classificatory System and Evolutionary Thought of Ancient Chinese Epigraphic Works
As a vital component of Chinese classical scholarship, the evolution of the classificatory system for epigraphic works reflects the academic orientations of different historical periods and provides important support for constructing the ideological system of Chinese classical studies. From the late Qing Dynasty to the Republican period, bibliographies of epigraphic works achieved certain development and breakthroughs in their classificatory systems. Nevertheless, problems such as vague cataloging standards and unsound scope of collection still persisted. By sorting out bibliographies of epigraphic works, this paper reveals the developmental context of epigraphy in different historical stages and the changes in academic thought behind it. On this basis, it proposes a reclassification of epigraphic works, hoping to offer new perspectives and insights for contemporary studies of Chinese classical scholarship.