Refers to the core or main body of a book, as opposed to supplementary sections like appendices or indexes.
Used for the first installment or original work in a series, contrasted with sequels or continuations.
The main part of this dictionary is about two thousand pages.
The first book of this novel series was published ten years ago.
本編 also means the main story or body of a work, often used for films or games, and is more common in modern contexts than 正編.
Standard kanji spelling for the main part or original text of a work.
Variant kanji spelling using 篇; less common but still encountered.
Compound of 正 (sei, 'correct, main') and 編 (hen, 'compilation, volume'). The spelling 篇 is a variant character for 'volume'.