A Study On The Configuration Of Graphic Character In Shang And Zhou Dynasty

The bronze inscription with strong pictographic features is called Graphic Character in the academia, and is regarded as a family symbol. Due to the specialty and isolated manifestation of the Graphic Character, the definition of its meaning and pronunciation, as well as the nature and role it plays in the history remains a research question in both Philology and Archeology.People started to study graphic character thousands years ago, and considerable achievement has been made in terms of interpretation and determination of its nature by generations of scholars. In this paper, the author studies the configuration system of graphic characters in Shang and Zhou Dynasty.We find that each graphic character is consists of one or several components, thus we conducted a statistic analysis of the amount and frequency of the basic components, compared the basic components with the oracle bone inscriptions, and reveal the characteristic of the graphic character based on the analysis.As the bronze inscription in the early ages, graphic character's shape is on the edge of both characters and pictures, showing prominent features and phenomenal characteristics. A systematic research on the shape of graphic character is an essential process to fully understand graphic character based on its noumenon. This is a research issue that is worth further exploration. In addition, the configurational analysis of graphic character is an important part of the research on paleography's configuration. A deep analysis of it can significantly promote the understanding of early character forms. Therefore, we choose the noumenon of graphic characters as study object in this paper. Based on the comprehensive understanding of the basic components and combined modes of graphic character, the main purpose of this article is to probe into the general features and rules of graphic character system. Such research will offer us a new perspective on further understanding the meaning and nature of graphic character. Graphic character is a kind of bronze inscription that has a rich content and complex nature. According to a comprehensive study on the components of the graphic character, we find that it consists of a limited number of relatively stable components. These components are not completely isolated or scattered among individuals; rather they interconnect with each other following certain rules and form a more ordered system of symbols. Graphic character already has an initially systematic organization of configuration with a group of stable components existing within that system. According to the statistical analysis, graphic character system has 259 basic components, out of which seven configuration mode types can be synthesized. Nevertheless, measured from the perspective of Philology, graphic character configuration system is still immature since its individuals and components are showing unstable forms and weak abilities in configuration. This indicates the under-regulated and imprecise characteristics of graphic character system.