Research on the Structural System of Han Dynasty Stele Clerical Script -- Series of Books on the History of Chinese Character Formation

Author: Chen Shumei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: This book conducts a comprehensive investigation and study of the structural system of clerical script on Eastern Han Dynasty steles based on the theory of Chinese character formation. By comparing it with other historical layers of Chinese character structural systems, it determines the position of Eastern Han Dynasty stele clerical script in the history of Chinese character formation, providing accurate evidence for establishing a scientific history of Chinese characters. Eastern Han steles are representative works of Han Dynasty clerical script. There are a considerable number of clear printed copies of stele rubbings with rich contexts, which provide sufficient material for the analysis and research of Han clerical script in this study. Therefore, we choose the characters on Eastern Han steles as the objects of analysis, applying the theory of Chinese character formation to conduct a comprehensive investigation, organization, and systematic analysis and description of the texts of the commonly used characters of this synchronic period. This preliminarily demonstrates the structural characteristics of Eastern Han clerical script and its position in the history of Chinese character development, exploring the process and patterns of Chinese character evolution to provide reliable evidence for establishing a scientific history of Chinese character formation. Specifically, this book aims to achieve the following three objectives: , to organize the examples of clerical script on steles, describe the structural system of Eastern Han clerical script, and outline the overall and systematic appearance of Chinese characters of that time, obtaining relevant data on structural elements, structural patterns, and relationships between characters, providing multidimensional information for its positioning and characterization. Second, to discover and observe various phenomena in the structural system of Eastern Han clerical script, and through vertical historical comparison, examine the structural characteristics of these characters, thereby revealing the patterns of evolution from ancient characters to modern characters; on this basis, establish the position of Han clerical script in the history of Chinese character development. Third, after clerical script, the style of calligraphy has become an important aspect in examining the attributes of Chinese characters. While examining the structural issues of Eastern Han clerical script, this study will also examine the reasons and characteristics of the formation of Han clerical script style, exploring the influence of calligraphic style and the writing elements of Chinese characters—strokes and stroke combinations—on structural evolution.