How to Write Chinese. Containing General Rules for Writing Chinese and Particular Directions for Writing the Radicals by J. Dyer Ball (James Dyer Ball) - 1905

Hong Kong: Kelly & Walsh, Hongkong, Shanghai, Yokohama, Singapore, 1905. 2nd Edition 1st Printing. Hardcover. Very Good. 12mo - over 6¾ - 7¾" tall. Text in English with some Chinese characters inserted throughout. Original brown cloth spine binding with heavy paper boards. Spine head, foot and covers outside corners slightly worn. Covers slightly stained and edges slightly sunned. Hinges slightly cracked. The blank page shows trace of and hold transparent tape restoration. A few foxing. Internally clear, tight, and very good. This scarce work gives the general rules to writing Chinese with the particular and minute directions how to write each character for beginners. The introductory part contains: first, general directions as to writing Chinese, amongst which are minute directions as to the manner of holding the Chinese pen. Followed by descriptions of the different strokes used in writing Chinese. Examples are given of Chinese words containing them in these different positions and combinations. In the body of the book is first given the number of the Radical, then the Radical itself, after which, the pronunciation of the Radical is given in the following language, or dialects of China, such as Mandarin (Pekingese), Canton (City), Hakka (San-on), Swatow, Foochow, Amoy, and Hankow. The book will therefore be of practical use throughout nearly the whole of China. The orthography use for the Mandarin is Sir Thomas Wade's. After the pronunciations in these different languages, or dialects, the meaning is given in English, followed by the order of writing, in which the word is dissected into its constituent elements. After the 'order of writing' appears a short paragraph under the heading of 'direction and remarks'. Indexes of the Radicals, according to their pronunciation in Mandarin, in Cantonese, and according to their English meanings are appended, three in all, as well as an excursus on the 'practical use of a Chinese dictionary'. This book contains directions for writing 800 or more words or parts of Chinese words. James Dyer Ball (4 December 1847 in Canton, China - 22 February 1919 in London, England) was a Hong Kong scholar and author born in Canton. He is noted for works on Chinese culture and for contributing to the development of the system of Cantonese Romanization. Ball was the son of the Reverend Dyer Ball of Massachusetts, United States. He began his career in Hong Kong with a brief stint as a school teacher at the Government Central School. In March 1875, he took up the post of assistant Chinese interpreter and clerk at the Magistrates' Courts. Six years later, he had risen to First Interpreter at the Supreme Court, Sheriff and Marshall of the Vice-Admiralty Court. He retired in 1909 and died in 1919 in Enfield, Middlesex, England. Ball was considered the most capable and knowledgeable European speaker of Cantonese of his time. He authored many pamphlets and books, including "Cantonese made easy", "The Cantonese made easy vocabulary", "Easy sentences in the Hakka dialect with a vocabulary", "how to speak Cantonese", "Hakka made easy", "An English-Cantonese pocket vocabulary", and others. Size: 6.2X9.6X0.6 inches 76 pages.