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| An Initial Exploration of the Characteristics of Medieval Graphic Variant Specialization |
| Lei Xiao |
| Center for Studies of History of Chinese Language / School of Literature, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China |
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Abstract Variants in Chinese characters can be categorized into two types based on their origins: structural differences (异构) and graphic variations (异写). At the level of functional differentiation, a hierarchical distinction exists between the overarching category of variant-based functional allocation (异体分工) and its two sub-types: structural variant functionalization (异构分工) and graphic variant specialization (异写分工). The so-called graphic variant specialization refers to the deliberate creation or utilization of graphic variants that differ from the original character only in minor strokes, which are then assigned distinct functions to represent different phonetic or semantic values of the original character. This constitutes a crucial mechanism for the functional adjustment of Chinese characters. As a term grounded in character usage, graphic variant specialization encompasses two key aspects: (1) the differentiation of a character’s functional roles by assigning distinct phonetic or semantic values to the original character and its minor-stroke variants; (2) the distribution of multiple phonetic or semantic values originally borne by a single character into independent graphic forms, thereby achieving functional specialization.The phenomenon of graphic variant specialization dates back to the oracle bone inscriptions, though it was limited to certain scribal groups and is thus often subsumed under the broader category of graphic variant specialization in scholarship. During the medieval period, Chinese scripts underwent a transition from clerical and seal script to regular script, with character structure and form gradually stabilized. Consequently, graphic variant specialization became more pronounced than in ancient writing systems. However, prior studies have inadequately addressed this deliberate graphic differentiation, lacking systematic discussion from the perspective of character usage history.This article examines five case studies of graphic variations pairs— vs.否、 vs.荼、 vs. 、乹 vs.乾、刁 vs.刀—analyzing their functional differentiation processes in detail. Building on this analysis, the study reveals that medieval graphic variant specialization follows multiple developmental trajectories. Specifically, distinct patterns emerge among different character groups: an incipient type (where differentiation begins but halts prematurely), a transitional type (temporary stabilization followed by regression), and a completed type (successful reallocation of phonetic-semantic relationships). The characteristics of medieval graphic variant specialization include period-specificity, instability, and latent manifestation.Investigating medieval graphic variant specialization carries both theoretical and practical significance. For the advancement of Chinese paleography, it bridges the gap between ancient and early modern character systems. In terms of medieval character usage theory, systematically tracing functional differentiation processes elucidates the self-regulating mechanisms of the Chinese writing system. For textual studies, clarifying subtle orthographic variations across periods aids in dating and authenticating excavated manuscripts while enabling more accurate collation of transmitted texts.
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Received: 27 May 2025
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2026, Vol. 56 
