林彪 Posted February 3, 2004 at 05:56 PM Report Share Posted February 3, 2004 at 05:56 PM For a while I've been wondering why 國 became 国 in the 1956 character simplification. Anyone have any idea? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nnt Posted February 3, 2004 at 09:53 PM Report Share Posted February 3, 2004 at 09:53 PM I've checked in Kangxi Dictionary: there was a "vulgar" form of the character : 囗 + 王 inside. 囗 itself was an old form of 國. I think the simplified form ( 国) is not so new, but I'm not sure (needs some research) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
林彪 Posted February 3, 2004 at 10:25 PM Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2004 at 10:25 PM My best guess so far is that it was copied from the Japanese character simplification. That guess relies on whether the Japanese simplified the characters first, or whether the Chinese simplified them first. Does anyone know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Yinyue Mike Posted February 4, 2004 at 02:58 AM Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 at 02:58 AM This is by no means certain, but I'm pretty sure I "read somewhere" that 国 is among the simplifications adopted first by the Japanese and later used by China. I suspect though that it was present all along as an unofficial simplification, along with the same character with 王 inside instead of 玉, and the Japanese were the first to adopt it officially. This kind of "popular" simplification is actually really common, even today. Sorry it's not more authoritative! By the way, it might be obvious, but the simplified character took a meaning-meaning approach of treasure (jade) within borders instead of a phonetic-meaning approach 或 huo4 as the phonetic for guo2. Hope that helps. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nnt Posted February 4, 2004 at 07:57 AM Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 at 07:57 AM I've found a great link : http://www.sungwh.freeserve.co.uk/hanzi/index.html The simplified character was Japanese. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and select your username and password later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.