The four-corner number is a convenient Chinese character search method. It was invented by Wang Xuan, a clerk at the Bank of China, in 1915. It is mainly used to quickly search for Chinese characters in a computer-free environment. It uses four numbers to represent the structural characteristics of Chinese characters, and each number corresponds to the stroke characteristics of a specific corner of the Chinese character to facilitate manual retrieval. The editor of Downcodes will introduce in detail the definition, rules, application, advantages and limitations of four-corner numbers, and analyze its modern application and evolution to help you gain a deeper understanding of this unique Chinese character encoding system.
The four-corner number is a Chinese character detection method. Its main purpose is to facilitate quick search of Chinese characters without using a computer. When using four-corner numbers to index names, each number represents a part of the structure of a Chinese character: the first number represents the peripheral structure of the Chinese character, the second number represents the component in the upper left corner of the character, and the third number represents the component in the upper right corner of the character ( If there is no component in the upper right corner, the lower left corner shall prevail), and the fourth number indicates the lower component of the Chinese character. Usually, the four-corner numbers used for name indexes refer to the first four digits of Chinese characters. In practical applications, it is most common to use the first four digits of the four-corner number to index and retrieve Chinese characters, because this can effectively cover most Chinese character structures.
In the four-corner number, the assignment of each number is determined based on the shape of the strokes of the Chinese characters. These numbers range from 0 to 9, and each has a specific meaning. For example, the 0 code usually represents one drawn like a horizontal line, the 1 code represents "丶", etc., while the "2" code represents the "丨" vertical hook, the "3" code is used for the corners of the "L" shape, and the "4" code represents " A closed structure like '口'", and the number after "5" is used to represent different stroke types and shapes.
The inventor of the four-corner number was Wang Xuan, a Bank of China employee who invented the system in 1915. The four-corner number detection method uses four numbers to represent the structure of a Chinese character, which is easy for manual retrieval and greatly improves the efficiency of finding Chinese characters. Even before the popularization of modern computer retrieval technology, four-corner numbers were an important tool widely used by libraries, archives and other institutions.
The structure of the four-corner numbers is mainly based on the strokes and structure of Chinese characters. Each number corresponds to a specific corner of the Chinese character. This system encodes complex and varied Chinese characters in digital form, greatly simplifying the retrieval process. There are many rules that need to be followed when coding. For example, for Chinese characters with many strokes in the same part, the first two strokes should be used as the basis for numbering.
In the name index, the four-corner numbers are mainly used to encode Chinese characters in a certain order to facilitate search. Especially when it comes to a large number of names with similar or identical pinyin, the four-corner number provides a more accurate and faster retrieval method. Using the number that matches each Chinese character, you can quickly locate specific name entries in large documents and records.
The advantage of the four-corner number detection method is that it simplifies the structural characteristics of Chinese characters, making the character detection process fast and accurate. It is especially suitable for those who have some basic knowledge of Chinese characters but are not very familiar with some complex or uncommon Chinese characters. However, this method also has limitations: it may not be able to distinguish some Chinese characters with similar structures, and is not suitable for retrieval of traditional Chinese characters or variant characters. In addition, in the digital age, the convenience and accuracy of computer retrieval have gradually replaced traditional word search methods.
Although the four-corner number retrieval method is now replaced by computerized retrieval systems in many fields, it still plays a role in some special fields, such as some specialized word processing software or Chinese character learning tools. In addition, the four-corner number is still an important auxiliary tool for the study of Chinese characters and the compilation of ancient books. In modern times, with the development of Chinese character input technology, the principle of four-corner numbers has also been adopted by some input methods, reflecting its value in the analysis of Chinese character structure.
Through the above introduction, we understand the application of four-corner numbers in the name index and the meaning of the numbers they represent. This system is not only a powerful tool for Chinese character learners and document processors, but also reflects the logic and regularity of Chinese character structure and is an indispensable part of the study of Chinese character culture.
1. What is the four-corner number name index? The four-corner number name index is a method used to search and arrange according to the stroke order of Chinese characters. Each Chinese character is marked with numbers according to the number of strokes in its four corners. The corresponding Chinese character can be quickly found through the combination of numbers.
2. What do the numbers in the four-corner number index mean? In the four-corner number name index, the four marked numbers represent the number of strokes in the four corners of a Chinese character. The first number represents the number of strokes in the upper left corner, the second number represents the number of strokes in the upper right corner, the third number represents the number of strokes in the lower left corner, and the fourth number represents the number of strokes in the lower right corner. Through the combination of numbers, the position of a Chinese character in the index can be uniquely determined.
3. What are the application scenarios of the four-corner number name index? The four-corner number name index is widely used in scenarios such as Chinese character input methods, Chinese character dictionaries, and name sorting. In the Chinese character input method, the Chinese character to be input by the user can be predicted based on the four-corner number entered by the user, thereby improving input efficiency. In Chinese character dictionary and name sorting, you can search and sort according to the four-corner numbers of Chinese characters, making the query and sorting more accurate and efficient.
I hope this introduction to four-corner numbers is helpful to you! Although its application has declined in the digital age, the four-corner number, as a unique Chinese character encoding system, still has its historical significance and cultural value.