The Diachronic Usage and Orthographic Changes of the Modal Particle “則箇” (個・个) from the Song to the Qing Dynasties

This study investigates the diachronic usage and orthographic changes of the modal particle “則箇” (個・个) from the Song to the Qing dynasties, based on vernacular Chinese texts. Materials are organized by period and literary style, clarifying the particle’s distribution and usage patterns in each era. The analysis reveals a gradual decline in frequency, leading to its disappearance. This study also examines changes in written forms and possible causes. Through systematic analysis of historical data, the paper presents a comprehensive view of the particle’s development and contributes to understanding linguistic change in pre-modern Chinese.