Variant characters - Itaiji

A typeface of a kanji other than the standard typeface. It is also called a variant character, separate character, or variant character. In a broader sense, variant characters can refer to both kanji and kana (variant kana) that differ from the normal typeface, but usually it refers only to kanji. The classification of variant characters varies from school to school, but possible categories include (1) abbreviated characters (characters with strokes omitted, such as 令・暦 →厂, and 厚 → 厚), (2) ligature characters (combined characters of two, such as 麻＋呂 →�maru, and 菩薩 →), (3) divided characters (characters divided into two, such as 米 → やぎ), (4) old characters (also called classical Japanese. Old style characters from before the development of seal script. Some, such as 礼, have been adopted as common kanji), (5) vulgar characters (characters that are not formal and are commonly used, such as よ), and (6) 譌 (characters that are recognized as typos).

[Masayuki Tsukimoto]

"Ota Shojiro, 'A Corner of Variant Characters' (included in 'Local Studies Lecture Series 7', 1955, Kadokawa Shoten)" ▽ "Sugimoto Tsutomu, 'Collection of Research Materials on Variant Characters', Vol. 10 and Supplementary Volume 2 (1973-75, Yuzankaku Publishing)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

漢字の字体のうち標準字体以外のもの。異体文字、別体字、変体字ともいう。広義の用法では、漢字とともに通常の字体と異なる仮名（変体仮名）をも異体字とよぶことがあるが、通常は漢字のみをさす。異体字の分類は諸家によりかならずしも一定しないが、(1)略字（字画を省略したもの。暦・歴→厂、幅→巾など）、(2)合字（2字を合成したもの。麻＋呂→麿、菩＋薩→など）、(3)分字（1字を2字に分割したもの。米→八木など）、(4)古字（古文ともいう。篆(てん)書以前の古体字。礼のように常用漢字に採用されているものもある）、(5)俗字（世間に通用している正式でない字体。曜→など）、(6)譌(か)字（誤字と認められるもの）などが考えられる。

［月本雅幸］

『太田晶二郎著『異体字一隅』（『郷土研究講座 7』所収・1955・角川書店）』▽『杉本つとむ編『異体字研究資料集成』10巻・別巻2（1973～75・雄山閣出版）』

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