Literacy is a key factor affecting reading ability. In terms of learning, working, and living, it is also an indispensable ability. This study uses the new Chinese characters of ancient and modern literacy textbooks as the research text. Firstly, through a discussion of the development of enlightenment books in the past, the position of enlightenment books in Dunhuang manuscripts was established. Then the classification of literacy enlightenment books in Dunhuang manuscripts was explored to show its characteristics of diversity. Afterwards, the literacy enlightenment books in Dunhuang manuscripts, according to their editing styles, were grouped into rhyming styles, four-tone styles, and classified styles.
Secondly, through the study of editing of the literacy enlightenment books in Dunhuang manuscripts from several aspects, including the era, form and content, the research showed characteristics of the new Chinese characters and their cultural value. On the other hand, based on the Nani, KangHsuan, and Hanlin Chinese textbooks for elementary schools approved by the Ministry of Education in the 108th school year, the "quantity" of the new Chinese characters was analyzed and compared with standards of the Ministry of Education’s " Curriculum Guidelines of 9-Year Basic Education ", "Curriculum Guidelines of 12-Year Basic Education ", "Principles of Literacy Processing", " Frequency of words Table".
In addition, the number and frequency of the new Chinese characters between literacy enlightenment books in Dunhuang Manuscripts and Chinese textbooks in elementary school were discussed and compared. From the common characters selected by both the ancient and modern literacy textbooks, the continuity of the characters was studied. Furthermore, characteristics of the literacy enlightenment books were showed by using the radicals, as well as references were provided by using the number of strokes for editing of Chinese textbooks for elementary schools.
Finally, in addition to literacy textbooks, the literacy teaching in Dunhuang during the Tang and Five Dynasties is also different from in modern elementary schools. According to the content and nature of the teaching materials, similarities and differences between ancient and modern literacy teaching methods were discussed, which could provide teachers diverse thinking and help improve the effectiveness of literacy.