A study on the change of variant character of “人” radical in warring states' written words

This study investigates variant characters of the “人” radical in Warring States’ written words. It examines their graphic transformations and subsequent transmission into variant characters in regular script. Seven main mechanisms are identified: substitution, addition, omission, symbolization, new creation, archaic origin, and positional modification. These mechanisms represent the primary modes of variant character formation. Five key features are observed: diverse radical substitutions, emergence of new variants through multiple pathways, resemblance to archaic Chinese graphs, direct transmission into regular script, and forms unexplained by established rules. Some variants persisted into later scripts, highlighting the creative dynamics of variant character formation and the continuity between Warring States’ written words and subsequent script traditions. This research aids the decipherment of difficult variants and offers insights into interpreting ancient Chinese classics.