Variant Forms of Characters

In the process of transcribing original text from the database into traditional characters we normally use today, an important component of our work is to recognize various forms of Chinese characters in classical Chinese. As there was no format of Chinese characters that was as definite as what we see today, we found many characters that could be identified as today's "simplified Chinese," "traditional Chinese," and those that did not belong to these two categories. For those Chinese characters that do not belong to these two categories, we will not categorize them and refer to them collectively as variant forms(異體字). In order to facilitate better verification and understanding of the original text, we have put footnotes on all variant forms of characters in our translations. We are also very welcome to any discussion and suggestions about the identification, transcription, translation, and all related works about these variant forms of Chinese characters. 

The integration of variant characters, traditional characters, and modern simplified characters in Xu Yezhao's works exemplifies the dynamic nature of Chinese character writing and its usage across historical periods. During the Qing Dynasty, traditional Chinese characters constituted the formal writing system utilized in official documentation, scholarly texts, and everyday communication. However, the absence of a standardized character system, akin to the one established in modern times, allowed for considerable variation in written forms. Scholars and scribes often employed variant characters influenced by individual preferences or regional cultural practices. This lack of uniformity led to the widespread adoption of distinct character forms within the same geographical region or across different communities of writers. Although modern simplified characters were not officially introduced until the mid-20th century, simplified forms of Chinese characters were already in use during the Qing Dynasty. These simplified forms, derived from running script (行书) and cursive script (草书) calligraphy, gained popularity among the general population. By reducing the number of strokes required to write a character, these forms facilitated greater efficiency in handwritten texts and block printing, making them a practical choice for many.