Contributions and Developments Page

My decision to make this dictionary-database a public collaborative project effectively curtails my role as sole owner of the data contained herein, since all contributors automatically become partners. Therefore, major decisions regarding usage of the data in terms of publication, accreditation and any renumeration must be shared among all contributors. I shall, nonetheless, until different circumstances arise, maintain my role as chief editor, making decisions regarding content, format, etc. This being stated, input of any sort is welcomed, whether it be in terms of improvements in digital implementation, correction of minor errors, editing/improvement of prior material or addition of new material. 

As can be seen, the dictionary is currently in an hyperlinked HTML format, which can and will be taken to its greatest limits in future updates. Most important among these will be the full interlinking between this CJK dictionary and its sister project, the dictionary of Buddhist terms. This dictionary is also presently offered in a more sophisticated program format by EAST (Windows95 ViewDic Series). We will be continuing to work with EAST to support that project and further develop it.

A CGI forms searching and input format can also be developed. If someone is interested in undertaking this task, please contact me for the necessary data file. I have not made much effort to pursue CGI thus far, because I feel that the graphical character of CJK written language is so well expressed in graphic HTML language--whereas the CGI approach really has a Western alphabetic color to it. Nonetheless, I am willing to go along with this.

Obviously, the present dictionary is displayed in JIS 0208 code. In the master database however, all characters have a Unicode Hex code attached, thus the entire body is basically Unicode-ready. If comprehensive CJK-Unicode fonts become widely implemented, we will quickly follow suit and set the dictionary up in that format. In so doing we will be able to take advantage of the larger number of character maps available in this format. For the time being, if someone is interested in doing a conversion of this material to Big5 or KSC, we will be happy to cooperate fully.

Please use the attached templates, or similar format, to e-mail your contributions. We can  read Big5, CNS or KSC files, so submission in these formats is fine. Please just indicate somewhere in your heading as to the kind of format you are using. In the case of both templates, obviously not every person will be capable of filling out every category, so just do as much as you know.

• We are looking for thorough, well written definitions which reflect the scholarly nature of this compilation, something like an English version of what you might find in Morohashi, the Daejaweon or one of the major Zihai dictionaries, something a bit more than you might find in Mathews or Nelsons. 
• This being a dictionary with a Classical/pre-modern orientation, the traditional form of the character is always preferred over the modern/simplified form