The different categories of
ancient consonants and
rhymes are the foundation of Huang Kan 's Ancient Phonology. This article examines Huang's method of looking for 19 consonants through the first character in fan qie. It points out that Huang 's "original consonant and original rhyme", "original consonant and
changeable rhyme", and "changeable consonant and changeable rhyme" are based on the logical
principle of "from specific to general". This principle enables us to see that Huang did not touch upon ancient rhymes in his seeking of 19 consonants, but only referred to ancient rhymes when he was selecting and classifying representative words (not ancient consonants). Based on a large number of tables examining sounds, the article points out that Huang 's ancient consonants are obtained from the system of
middle ancient consonants, which shows that Huang 's ancient consonants are not related to Huang's ancient rhymes. Of the middle ancient rhymes, Huang took the first category and the fourth category (mouth open or closed) as the original ancient rhymes. When this criterion is used to examine Qian Xuantong 's Table of Middle Ancient Rhyme Categories, an accuracy of 97. 1% and 91. 1% can be achieved. This article concludes that seeking original ancient rhymes is unrelated to original ancient consonants, and Huang's taking the first and fourth categories of rhymes as the original ancient rhymes, as opposed to circulative demonstration, is in line with the principle of modem phonology.
More summaries about the Huang Kan's Ancient Phonology: 19 Consonants and 28 Rhymes in the Ancient Times