A Study On The Development Of Dongba Characters Based On The Description Of Variant Forms

Taking the variant form in Dongba Characters as an object of study, based on the analysis of the relations of variant form in Dongba Characters, the thesis mainly talks about Dongba variant forms from different points of views, and summarized the development stages of the Dongba characters and its development approaches.This thesis can mainly be attributed to the following three areas:First of all, the Dongba Variant Characters has been collected. There are many groups in Dongba Variant Characters, and the average number of characters in each groups is also greater. Then much of the work of collection of the words has not been done comprehensively. The variant forms appearing in relevance reference are mostly about introducing the examples. The thesis takes all kinds of books, monographs, papers, Dongba books as sources of informations, collected of 1013 Dongba variant groups of forms, A total of 4391 characters, which on average group has more than four Dongba variant forms.Secondly, we study the relationship between different variant forms in Dongba Characters. The more than 1,000 groups variant forms are analyzed in groups, and mainly analyzes the development of relations between the Variant forms, and draw out the pictures of relations in variant forms. Comment carries out explanation on every character phenomenon in each group . All of this is the foundation of the theis research.Thirdly, we summarized the relationship between variant forms. We both from the micro and macro point of views summarized the relationship between variant forms in more than 1,000 groups. In the micro level, we mainly explore the development of the Dongba characters through studying of simplification, complication, phonolization, symbolization, pictozation,and Erroneous Characters of the six relationship between the variants changes. In the macro level, we sum up the development and changes in the Dongba characters through analyzing of the characteristics of the Dongba characters, and the differences between the initial characters to the end characters.Fourthly, we study of two concepts closely related to Dongba variant forms,that is Alternative Written Characters and Homoform Characters. It focuses on the effect of Dongba Characters development.Based on the research, Major conclusions are as follows:First, Dongba variant forms are quantity.Second, the relations of Dongba variant forms are diversity. It shows in the six aspects, that is simplification, complication, phonolization, symbolization, picturzation, and Erroneous Characters. From the microscopic point of view, the Simplification, Phonolization, Symbolization, are the Dongba Charcters development mainstream.Third, the early stage signs and method of coinage in the initial characters of Dongba characters are very strong,which embodies the original property of Dongba characters. The end characters of Dongba characters used more advanced method of coinage, which embodies the mature side in Dongba characters.Both The method of making characters and the symbol body of Dongba characters experienced significant development. The method of making characters of development, mainly embodies for some of the original method of making characters gradual disappearance and the Phonogram are abundant appearance. The development of symbol body, mainly embodies in the weakening of pictographic and the enhancement of symbols.Alternative Writing Characters and Homoform Characters in the Dongba Characters are quantity, that is performance of non-immature and non-standard.At the same time, Different Writing Characters and Homoform Characters implies a driving force for the further development of Dongba Characters.The significance of the thesis is that the development of the Dongba characters are Dongba research priorities and challenges. The research is not only a summary of Dongba variant forms comprehensively, but also is an attempt to discover the Dongba characters development path through studying of the phenomenon of variant forms. The research approach and final results provide useful help and inspirations for further study of other ethnic variant characters and the General Philology as well.