In the long course of history, language is a unique existence, which carries the culture, thoughts and emotions of an era.
Tang Dynasty Mandarin, as an important form of ancient Chinese, has always been the focus of attention of linguists.
And a recent research result has caused a wide range of discussions: what is the official language of the Tang Dynasty?
Linguists have studied the pronunciation dictionaries of the Sui, Tang and Song dynasties – the Cut Rhyme, Tang Rhyme, and Guangyun – and have come to a surprising conclusion: the pronunciation in these dictionaries is highly consistent with today's Cantonese.
This discovery not only reveals the characteristics of the official voice of the Tang Dynasty, but also provides important clues for us to understand the evolution of ancient Chinese.
The Tang Dynasty official pronunciation is considered to be the representative of the ancient Chinese pronunciation, which is neither the so-called "Liunan", nor the current Beijing pronunciation.
This has puzzled many people, as in past studies, it was generally believed that the Tang Dynasty official dialect was more phonetically similar to the northern dialects.
However, through comparative research, linguists have found that although Cantonese retains a large number of Middle Chinese official dialect phonetics, there are still considerable differences.
So, why is the Tang Dynasty official pronunciation so similar to Cantonese?This may have something to do with historical geography.
During the Tang Dynasty, China's political, economic, and cultural centers were concentrated in the Yellow River and Yangtze River valleys, which were among the birthplaces of the Cantonese language.
Therefore, it is likely that the official pronunciation of the Tang Dynasty was influenced by Cantonese, thus forming a pronunciation characteristic similar to that of Cantonese.
In addition to Cantonese, the Tang Dynasty official pronunciation was also closely related to the Yanjing and Jinling tones.
Yanjing and Jinling are both variants of Luoyang Yin, and they represent two important branches of Luoyang Yin in the north and south, respectively.
This distribution pattern reflects the regional differences and cultural diversity of Chinese society during the Tang Dynasty.
Through the study of the official pronunciation of the Tang Dynasty, we can better understand the evolution of ancient Chinese and explore the mysteries of ancient Chinese culture more deeply.
At the same time, this research result also provides a new perspective and method for the teaching and research of modern Chinese.
However, we should also be aware that language is a living being, which is constantly evolving and evolving.
Although the pronunciation of the Tang Dynasty official dialect is highly consistent with Cantonese, it is still a form of ancient Chinese, which is very different from modern Chinese.
Therefore, while learning and inheriting ancient Chinese, we should also pay attention to the development and innovation of modern Chinese.
In conclusion, the study of the official dialect of the Tang Dynasty is a challenging and meaningful work.
Through the in-depth study of the official pronunciation of the Tang Dynasty, we can better understand the evolution of ancient Chinese and explore the mysteries of ancient Chinese culture more deeply.
At the same time, this research result also provides a new perspective and method for the teaching and research of modern Chinese.
Let us work together to inherit and carry forward the excellent tradition of ancient Chinese and contribute to the development and innovation of modern Chinese
Tang Dynasty