The First Batch Of Variant Forms "and Then Thinking And Research

It nearly has past 50 years since " the first generation of lists of variant forms of Chinese character " were issued on December 22, 1955. There were 3 times slight adjustments about the lists. At present, there are 795 sets of variant forms of Chinese character . While there exist some problems in the lists for different reasons. Two of the reasons are important. One is the weak thereotical study, the other is the divorce of theory and practice which leads to the enlargement of the lists, so that there are not only pure variant formsin the lists.This paper gives a discussion about the above mentioned problems. It can be devided into 4 parts. Part one is the introduction, reviewing the collecting and collating history of the variant forms of Chinese character and showing some features about the lists. Part two is the definition of the variant forms of Chinese character and makes a distinction from it and other relating terms. Part three is the examination about the lists. It gives a classified discription about the character-forming type and the relation between the form, sound and meaning . This part shows not only individual analysis but also data illustration. Part four is the summary, exposing the reasons of the problems in the lists and putting forward the suggestions about the collating way of the variant forms of Chinese character . Part two and three are the crucial parts.