On Warring States Script Figure

In the historical process of scripts development, Warring States scripts are important intermediate links between inscriptions of Spring and Autumn Period and Seal scripts and clericals of Qin and Han Dynasties. On the basis of unearthed written materials and a comprehensive collection of glyph data, we will make a detailed analysis of their script figures. Moreover, set in the background of ancient Chinese characters, the script figure features of Warring States will be studied fully by means of synchronic and diachronic comparison methods. We will analyze the specific phenomena of their script figures in the following eight aspects:simplifying, Complication, replacement, shifting, rotating, corruption, analogization and the regional Characteristics. Simplifying is the main trends of Chinese character development. The simplifying forms of Warring States resemble that of the past, consisting of outline simplifying, characteristic simplifying, simplifying of strokes merger. However, some important methods not seen beforehand are used in simplifying of Warring States scripts, such as concentrated form, form blank, strokes contraction, strokes straightened, strokes connection, ect of outline simplifying, which become the specific methods of Chinese characters simplifying directly later. The simplifying methods in clerical script have been used in Warring States scripts. The method of strokes straightened paves the way for clerical script, and link writing is the source of cursive Script. The characteristic simplifying mainly include script figure amputated and cutting down the radicals. There are two unique and important phenomena in Warring States scripts:cutting down the compound graph radicals and blending physical forms. The usual way of simplifying of strokes merger is radical or stroke sharing. The unique phenomenon in Warring States scripts is merge strokes of borrowing the border or ridge line of writing materials, which we call "borrowing and Omitting Strokes".Complication is embodied abnormally abundant in the Warring States scripts, including phonetic symbol complication, semantic symbol complication, adding superfluous, the same shape superposition, and decorative landscaping. The phenomenon of pictophonetic characters filling with phonetic symbol in that period is very important. The double phonetic symbol pictophonetic characters are formed by adding phonetic symbol. We find that the voice relationship of two phonetic symbols is close, having a clear regularity. Semantic symbol complication is used commonly, and adding semantic symbol is an important means of differentiation Characters, thereby generating a certain amount of specialized created characters. Also adding superfluous is often used in the Warring States scripts. The common superfluous are "kou"(口)、"gan"(甘)、‘’"toe-shaped""、"jiu"(臼)"zhua"(爪)、mian"(宀)、"bi"(匕)、"qi"(丌)and so on. In addition, there is complication of the same shape superposition, adding strokes, birds and insects ornamentation.Replacement includes partial replacement of radicals and a whole replacement of script forms. In addition, it includes replacement among phonetic symbols, and replacement among semantic symbols. Moreover, there is replacement between phonetic symbols and semantic symbols. Also there is mixture replacement among different structural types.Warring States scripts have not been fully finalized, so the radical position in the scripts is not fixed, and often shifts. Sometimes only one radical position transfers, while the radical positions are sometimes reciprocity.It’s common to see rotation of script forms in Warring States scripts. Maybe it’s a special phenomenon caused by writing materials. It’s mostly appeared in the Royal Seals, currency scripts, and also found in the Bamboo volumes.Corruption is a common phenomenon, including falsely represented shape, falsely represented sound and the wrong corruption correction in general. By combing, we find that there are more than three hundred groups of falsely represented shape in Warring States scripts. Falsely represented sound is to show phonetics by transforming the script figures.This kind of corruption Changes the structure of Chinese characters, and produces the new phonetic radicals. These script figures are handed down by the future generations due to their phonetic function. Analogization can not be ignored in the Warring States scripts, including the internal adjustment of script forms in the synchronic level and analogization by the context of specific environmental impact and writing system influence in the diachronic level.The Warring States scripts have distinct geographical features, affected by their using area. On basis of comparing ancient characters used in Qi State, Yan State, Jin State, Chu State and Qin State, we will make a classified description of its regional characteristics, and find a lot of characteristic script figures of each region. Although Warring States scripts of each area show a clear regional style, its stigma of the era as a main theme is always throughout on each line of the script forms. The main characteristics of the times are consistently united in Warring States scripts which are an important historical period in the development of Chinese characters.By analyzing several figure features of Warring States scripts, we research and explain some difficult words, mainly including "hou "(后)、"hun huan"((?)缳)、"Juan sheng"((?)生)、"ding sheng’’(丁生)、"pi ying"(辟�'�)、"xue ni"(薛孴)."zhong"(终)、"zhuang’’(荘)、"liang"(梁)、"you"(佑)、‘’liang"((?))、"xia”(夏)、"mian’(?)、"ni"’((?))、"sha"(杀)、"tan’’(坛)、"liao"(寮)、"se"(啬)、"yi"(遗)、"zong’’(总)、"zhuang"((?))、"man"(满).