Three Semantic Levels and Variant Text in Annotated Classics——The Annotated Classics of The Analects of Confucius as the Focus
Annotated classics include three semantic levels:word meaning,text meaning and exegesis.Every semantic level can affect the use of characters and result in variant choices of characters.This paper focuses on the annotated classics of The Analects of Confucius,and analyzes the restriction and balance between the semantic levels and variant text.Firstly,the correspondence between Chinese characters is diachronic.Later generations used differentiated characters,common characters,original characters that were used to modify the earlier characters,variant characters,and Tongjia characters,which resulted in variant characters.Secondly,the text meaning is compatible.Later generations used synonyms as substitutes,since"synonyms can be used in general terms,but must be distinguished when they appear relatively",or"characters can be based on scriptures"to express the literal meaning,which will also lead to the rise of variant text in later generations.Thirdly,the exegesis after annotation participated in the construction of the system of text meaning.Later generations chose the characters whose forms were more in line with the exegesis,which resulted in the phenomenon of"modifying scriptures based on annotations",and also the text varied in later versions.In general,the variant text appeared in later generations was dedicated to strengthening the connection between characters and all semantic levels.
variant textword meaningtext meaningexegesisThe Analects of Confucius
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