A History of Chinese Grammar Studies by Western Scholars in Ming and Qing Dynasties

In Ming and Qing Dynasties, western missionaries and sinologists systematically described Chinese grammar on the basis of imitation to Latin grammar. Their Chinese grammar studies, covering about 200 years, can be classified into three major types, namely the Catholic type, the European sinologist type, and the protestant type. The three types share much in common, but keep their distinctions as well. These studies, on the one hand initiated systematic descriptions to Chinese grammar; on the other hand they contained deep thoughts on the specialties of Chinese language.Study of this history can not only fill in the blank of the history of Chinese grammar studies, but also bring lessons to today's Chinese grammar studies. Moreover, these grammar texts can also be used as materials for the study of the history of the Chinese language(s).