部件 ‘口’와 ‘厶’의 書寫上 混用 樣相 考察

Abstract

Currently, there are more than 5 million Chinese characters that are often mixed with other characters because of their similar forms. Specifically speaking, ‘口’ and ‘厶’ are frequently mixed with other characters as constructing characters. For example, 句(gu)and 勾(gu), 員(won)and 貟(won), 强(gang)and 強(gang), 或(hok)and 㦯(hok), and several others are mix-used in the similar fashion. Further more, writing, stone inscriptions, edition of books are also mix-used in the similar fashion. This thesis is to thoroughly consider and investigate the growth and reasons of mix-used characters— ‘口’ and ‘厶’—such as the examples mentioned earlier. The investigation was executed by understanding how character ‘口’ and ‘厶’ were used in characters and the association between the two. Constructing character ‘口’ has meanings such as mouth, country, architecture, door, plate, or mass of objects. When constructing character ‘厶’ has the meaning of the first letter of 私(sa), 肱(gweng) from ancient writings, or 以(e) from ancient writings(㠯) they have shown similarity to palaeography. In 去(guo) or 至(ji) from ancient writings, the forms are in a triangular shape where the bottom is wide and the top is narrow, using the formation of ‘厶’. Passing the era of oracle bone script and bronze script, brief biography, object shave been displayed in a diagram form. the shape of circle, square, and triangle are combined by substituting with ‘口’ and ‘厶’. Through this kind of procedure, imprecise shapes such as square and circle have been evolved into the shape of ‘厶’. From the time when people used inscriptions on bones to printed style of Chinese handwriting, mix-use of characters have been naturally continued by the use of distorted forms or natural change in forms of Chinese characters and calligrapher’s creative use of the forms. Since the characters are very easily manipulated, there are many misused cases of mix-used characters and there is a valid need to correct the misuse. Different places that uses the traditional Chinese characters, simplified characters, and other Asian Chinese character culture areas have modified the use of Chinese characters according to the countries’ situations. There is a need to understand and investigate in graphonomy how today’s Chinese characters (one letter with multiple characters and meanings) have evolved through natural change in forms of Chinese characters.