Read the January 2016 NYTimes article on this language in peril.
View the updated 2nd edition, containing access to audio files.
As the first English-language Manchu textbook since Moellendorf’s Manchu Grammar in 1892, this book offers students a tool to gain a good grounding in the Manchu language. Instead of having to depend on a formal Manchu class — Manchu courses are only rarely taught at universities anywhere — students will be able study Manchu at their speed and convenience. If studied in its entirety, the material in this book represents the approximate equivalent of a three-semester course (one year and a half).
Contents
Acknowledgments
Part I: Introduction
The purpose of this book
Why study Manchu?
Manchu sources
- Bibliographies
- Archival collections
- Official publications
- Non-official sources
The value of Manchu documents
Work to be done
About the Manchu language
- History of the Manchu language
- Alphabet
- Romanization
- Pronunciation
- Language characteristics
- Foreign language influence
The Manchu script
- Writing peculiarities
- Tables of alphabet symbols
- Reading exercise—Sample words
Part II: Reading Selections
How to use the texts
About the reading selections
A. Standard Manchu—Narratives from the Qianlong period
- A–1 Veritable Records
- A–2 Hošik
- A–3 Husayn
- A–4 Hasim
- A–5 Abdurman
- A–6 Ūdui
B. Official documents
- B–1 Asking for administrative leave (1874)
- B–2 Weather report from Mukden (1779)
- B–3 Correspondence between Kangxi and his son (1696)
- B–4 From Mampi to Fiyanggū (1697)
- B–5 Fiyanggū reports on envoys from Galdan (1697)
- B–6 Fiyanggū reports Galdan’s death (1697)
C. Old Manchu—From the Old Manchu archives
- C–1 On collective leadership (1622)
- C–2 Manchu–Chinese cooperative living (1621–1622)
- C–3 Manchu–Chinese inequality (1623)
- C–4 On maintaining the Manchu heritage (1636)
D. Contemporary Sibe
- D–1 Dead horses obstructing the road
- D–2 Mr. Mouse moves
Part III: Study Aids
Historical background: The Qing Dzungar campaigns
Translations
Grammatical points
Miscellaneous information
Selected reference materials
Index of grammatical points