BabelStone Blog
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
Untangling the Web of Characters
Notes for an introductory talk on the Tangut script given at SOAS on 21st May 2009
- Part 1 : How Complex is Tangut ?
- Part 2 : Untangling the Web of Characters
- Part 3 : Tangut Homographs
2.1 The Sea of Characters
| 𘝞𗗚 | ·jwɨr ŋjow |
| 文海 | wén hǎi |
- The mid 12th century monoglot Tangut rhyming dictionary, the "Sea of Characters" (Wén Hǎi 文海 in Chinese), provides a compositional analysis of each character
- It explains each character in terms of other Tangut characters from which its constituent elements have been borrowed
- E.g. explains Character A as being derived from the left side of Character X and the right side of Character Y
- The source characters from which an element is said to be derived may have a phonetic or a semantic relationship with the target character (note it is the source character which has the semantic or phonetic function, not the element itself)
- Creates a network of interrelated characters—a web of characters rather than a sea of characters
The four characters under the large head character give the character's structural composition, using the following terms (and sometimes others) to indicate what part of the source character is being referred to (as no more than four characters are ever used to describe a character's structural composition, often one or more of these terms are elided) :
- 𘓳 *ŋowr = "whole"
- 𘊱 *pha̱ = "left"
- 𘁝 *nji̱j = "middle"
- 𗡼 *bji̱r = "right"
- 𗥦 *ɣu = "head, top"
- 𗘡 *tśhjɨj = "bottom"
- 𘍞 *iọ = "surrounding, enclosing"
The description of a character's composition does not always make sense.
Questions :
- Can the Sea of Characters analysis be relied on ?
- Does its analysis of the structure of Tangut characters accurately reflect the principles by which the Tangut script’s creator or creators devised the individual characters of the script ?
- Or is it a later, spurious attempt to explain and rationalize the structure of characters ?
2.2 A Case Study : The "Sun" Radical 𘤊
This component is Nishida Tatsuo's Radical No. 211, which he calls the "sun radical" 日部 (see Seikago no kenkyū 西夏語の研究 [A Study of the Hsi-Hsia Language] page 244). However, very few characters with this component are in any way related to the sun, and so Nishida's radical name is a misnomer (by far the largest semantic group of characters with this component is the "Bird-related" group, but Nishida already has a "bird" radical). As we shall see below, unlike most Chinese radicals, Tangut radicals do not have a single fixed meaning, and so giving names to them (as Nishida and others have done) is at best not very useful, and at worst misleading.
- A total of 219 characters (in N3797) with this component as a primary component :
- 1 character with this component as its only component
- 1 character with this component at the bottom
- 119 characters with this component on the left hand side
- 51 characters with this component on the right hand side
- 47 characters with this component in the middle
The Sea of Characters dictionary has head entries for 102 of these characters :
| Wén Hǎi | LFW2008 | Glyph | Reconstruction and Gloss | Structural Composition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P 8.243 | 3040 | 𗊌 | *nju "sweat" |
Left side of 𗊻 *śjo "sweat" Right side of 𘔳 *lwew "steam, smoke" |
| P 8.252 | 0399 | 𘃷 | *nju [a surname] |
Middle of 𗨛 *rjɨr "to go out, to give birth" Right side of 𗍊 *sju "as, like" |
| P 9.222 | 3808 | 𗾶 | *xju "empty" |
Left side of 𗾙 *lew "little bird" Right side of 𗥪 *rjɨj "to teach" |
| P 9.223 | 3673 | 𗿉 | *ɣju "smoke, mist" |
Right side of 𘔳 *lwew "steam, smoke" Right side of 𗞦 *kjur "to smoke sth." |
| P 9.231 | 3600 | 𗾤 | *ɣju "to ask, to call" |
Left side of 𗿄 *khju "to request, to ask" Right side of 𗄼 *lja "to come" |
| P 10.222 | 2267 | 𗿻 | *ku "phoenix" |
Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" Right side of 𘜶 *ljịj "big" Right side of 𘎃 *·we "bird" |
| P 10.253 | 3435 | 𗼍 | *ɣu "god, supernatural being" |
Left side of 𗼙 *ɣu "emperor" Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" |
| P 11.162 | 5083 | 𘛲 | *gu̱ "to patrol" |
Whole of 𘛯 *gu̱ [a surname] Right side of 𘕂 *dźjij "to go" |
| P 11.172 | 5551 | 𘛯 | *gu̱ [a surname] |
Left side of 𘛴 *gu̱ "a spirit" Middle of 𘛲 *gu̱ "to patrol" |
| P 12.151 | 2288 | 𗿺 | *nju̱ "smoke" |
Whole of 𗿉 *ɣju "smoke, mist" Right side of 𘃠 *du̱ "to store" |
| P 12.272 | 3242 | 𗾇 | *be "mad" |
Left side of 𗾷 *dzjị "owlet" Right side of 𗕶 *ɣạ "crazy" |
| P 13.111 | 2868 | 𗾸 | *be "illness" |
Whole of 𗾇 *be "mad" Right side of 𗥓 *ŋo "disease" |
| P 15.153 | 3170 | 𗿜 | *tśhji "shame, disgrace" |
Left side of 𗾹 *tshwu "shame, disgrace" Middle of 𗏣 *ljijr "direction" Right side of 𗼊 *sew "shy, bashful" |
| P 17.212 | 3278 | 𗣣 | *tshji "food" |
Left side of 𗢯 *lhjwa "tongue" Right side of 𗮘 *śjwi "food" |
| P 18.172 | 3243 | 𗾎 | *kjwi "turtledove" |
Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" Left side of 𗰰 *kjir [a surname] |
| P 18.252 | 1566 | 𘇭 | *sjwi "to tie" |
Left side of 𗝊 *sjwi "roof beam" Right side of 𘌤 *djɨ̣ "ribbon" |
| P 19.242 | 1327 | 𘝀 | *phji̱ "to fly" |
Left side of 𘝋 *dzjwɨ "wing" Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" |
| P 20.113 | 5840 | 𗗪 | *kji̱ "commerce, trade" |
Left side of 𗗥 *źjị "to buy and sell" Middle of 𘒨 *phjij "to express oneself" Right side of 𗍋 *khjɨ̱ "to gather" |
| P 20.142 | 5985 | 𗈹 | *sji̱ "to inspect" |
Left side of 𗈲 *khwa "far" Left side of 𘕨 *sji̱ "to cry, to wail, to lament" |
| P 20.253 | 2873 | 𗿡 | *·wẽ [a place name] |
Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" Right side of 𗩇 *·wẽ [a surname] |
| P 22.172 | 5966 | 𘂕 | *ta "swallow" |
Right side of 𗾙 *lew "little bird" Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" |
| P 23.262 | 2767 | 𗿵 | *ɣa [a surname] |
Middle of 𗍃 *·jiw [a place name] Right side of 𗪙 *mur "vulgar" |
| P 24.122 | 2322 | 𘓠 | *ɣa "sorrow" |
Right side of 𗤶 *nji̱j "heart, mind" Right side of 𗪆 *sjwɨ̱ "to think" |
| P 24.231 | 5911 | 𗈲 | *khwa "far" |
Left side of 𗈱 *rjar [a participle] Middle of 𗈹 *sji̱ "to inspect" Right side of 𗎘 *bju "border, side" |
| P 25.122 | 5969 | 𘖁 | *tsha "empty bag" |
Right side of 𗻍 *bu "reed-mace, cattail" Middle (?) of 𗮺 *tsə̣ "lungs" Middle of 𗍊 *sju "as, like" |
| P 26.151 | 2718 | 𗹼 | *khiwa "kidney" |
Whole of 𗹭 *bjij "high" Right side of 𗥛 *rjɨr "bone" |
| P 27.241 | 0538 | 𗍘 | *pja "butterfly" |
Surrounding part of 𗍎 *pja "dark green" Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" |
| P 27.242 | 1272 | 𗍜 | *pja "broad, shallow" |
Left side of 𗍘 *pja "butterfly" Right side of 𗼗 *djɨj "shallow" |
| P 28.121 | 3334 | 𗿦 | *mja "female [of human or animal]" |
Left side of 𗿽 *mja "a type of bird" Right side of 𘓱 *me̱ "swallow" or *ŋwə "heaven, emperor" |
| P 28.122 | 2270 | 𗿽 | *mja "a type of bird" |
Left side of 𗿦 *mja "female" Right side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" |
| P 28.253 | 0618 | 𗉅 | *tsja "hot" |
Bottom of 𗜐 *mə̱ "fire" Whole of 𗾔 *be "sun" |
| P 29.222 | 3698 | 𗿍 | *śja̱ "a type of bird" |
Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" Left or right side of 𗉋 *tśiow "to assemble" Right side of 𗰛 *dzjịj "to cross, to pass" |
| P 30.141 | 3436 | 𗼍 | *sa̱ "close relative" |
Bottom of 𗒂 *njạ "marriage" Left side of 𗿅 *·jɨ "marriage" |
| P 31.111 | 3672 | 𗿛 | *bã "goose" |
Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" Right side of 𗞢 *bã "tray" |
| P 32.111 | 3330 | 𗦌 | *swã [a surname] |
Left side of 𗤳 *mə [a surname] Middle of 𗪆 *sjwɨ̱ "to think" |
| P 32.272 | 3311 | 𗿮 | *pə "elder, senior" |
Left side of 𗿒 *khwej "big" Right side of 𗲟 *pə "ore" |
| P 35.111 | 1107 | 𘓱 | *ŋwə "heaven, emperor" |
Left side of 𘓺 *ŋwər "heaven" Left side of 𗾈 *me̱ "virtuous person" |
| P 36.271 | 2811 | 𘚷 | *ljɨ "round bone (?)" |
Left side of 𘚶 *ljɨ "wind" Right side of 𗥛 *rjɨr "bone" |
| P 36.273 | 2079 | 𗾓 | *ljɨ "noon" |
Left side of 𗿳 *dzjɨj "time" Right side of 𘆂 *ljij "noon" |
| P 37.213 | 2454 | 𗿁 | *phjɨ "to hear" |
Left side of 𗾤 *ɣju "to ask, to call" Right side of 𗣦 *śjwiw "to follow" Bottom of 𗓁 *mji "to listen, to hear" |
| P 38.122 | 0826 | 𗱁 | *thjɨ "to call, to speak" |
Left side of 𗱌 *thu "to release" Right side of 𗱃 *thjɨ "east, end" |
| P 39.112 | 2209 | 𗾲 | *tshjɨ "name of a star" |
Left side of 𗿘 *tshjɨ "a type of bird" Right side of 𘛶 *tśjɨ̱r "star, constellation" |
| P 39.121 | 3127 | 𗿘 | *tshjɨ "a type of bird" |
Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" Right side of 𗅻 *tshjɨ "lamb" |
| P 39.152 | 3657 | 𗿅 | *·jɨ "marriage" |
Right side of 𗼍 *sa̱ "close relative" Left side of 𗒂 *njạ "marriage" |
| P 39.251 | 3694 | 𗿬 | *kjwɨ "turtledove" |
Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" Whole of 𗯢 *gjwɨ "to cut, to break" |
| P 42.131 | 3171 | 𗿭 | *mjɨ̱ "pheasant" |
Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" Right side of 𗩫 *mjɨ̱ "woman" |
| P 42.251 | 2164 | 𗪆 | *sjwɨ̱ "to think" |
Left side of 𗤶 *nji̱j "heart, mind" Middle of 𗾫 *sji̱j "thought" Right side of 𗍊 *sju "as, like" |
| P 45.171 | 3297 | 𗿌 | *tśjij "a type of bird" |
Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" Right side of 𘓫 *tśjij [a surname] |
| P 50.262 | 3421 | 𗬴 | *ləj "equal, even" |
Middle of 𗅋 *mji "not" Right side of 𗣫 *tsəj "small, little, young" Left side of 𗿒 *khwej "big" |
| P 51.142 | 3647 | 𗿨 | *kiwəj "cuckoo" |
Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" Left side of 𗔤 *kiwe "dark" |
| P 53.242 | 3299 | 𘔳 | *lwew "steam, smoke" |
Left side of 𘔺 *khji "gas, steam" Left side of 𗿉 *ɣju "smoke, mist" |
| P 54.271 | 3960 | 𘀉 | *źjiw "bird" |
Left side of 𘀐 *źjiw "six, sixth" Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" |
| P 55.142 | 2086 | 𗾝 | *zji̱w "to hang" |
Whole of 𗾆 *dzjiw "waist" Right side of 𗭍 *dźjịj "to go, to send" |
| P 57.172 | 3906 | 𘀚 | *tśhio "origin, source" |
Left side of 𘀗 *tshjwu "sky, heaven" Right side of 𘏨 *ljɨ̣ "treasure" Middle of 𗿀 *tser "land, soil" |
| P 57.251 | 2759 | 𗾦 | *tśjo "chaotic" |
Right side of 𗊌 *nju "sweat" Right side of 𗿎 *lew "confused" |
| P 57.272 | 2816 | 𗼝 | *ljo "round bone" |
Left side of 𗼕 *ljo "good fortune" Right side of 𗥛 *rjɨr "bone" |
| P 62.162 | 5087 | 𗭴 | *·jow [a surname] |
Middle of 𗂽 *·jij "sheep" Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" Right side of 𗿀 *tser "land, soil" |
| P 63.211 | 1569 | 𗹐 | *twụ "loyal" |
Left side of 𗹑 *tśjɨj "upright" Left side of 𗾈 *me̱ "virtuous person" |
| P 65.271 | 2114 | 𗿶 | *liẹj "crow" |
Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" Whole of 𗰞 *nja̱ "black" |
| P 71.212 | 2742 | 𗾋 | *tẹ "[bird] shit" |
Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" Middle of 𗏡 *kụ "behind" |
| P 72.211 | 2268 | 𗿾 | *·wjị "east, tail end" |
Left side of 𗾔 *be "sun" Whole of 𘙎 *lhji "to give birth to" |
| P 73.212 | 3298 | 𗿯 | *djị "to tread" |
Surrounding part of 𗿞 *djị "to mate" Right side of 𘈷 *gji "son, child" |
| P 73.221 | 3312 | 𗿞 | *djị "to mate" |
Surrounding part of 𗿯 *djị "to tread" Right side of 𗄬 *dzjɨj "sexual intercourse" |
| P 74.231 | 3633 | 𗿃 | *də̣ "beautiful [of a bird?]" |
Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" Left side of 𘕡 *zewr "graceful, elegant" |
| P 75.121 | 3348 | 𗻲 | *tswə̣ "dung" |
Left side of 𗺕 *kji̱ "grass" Right side of 𗆑 *gja̱ "to swallow" |
| P 75.132 | 3612 | 𗿧 | *tsə̣ "medicine" |
Right side of 𗣣 *tshji "food" Right side of 𗼫 *sju "medicine" |
| P 75.172 | 5655 | 𘏨 | *ljɨ̣ "treasure" |
Left side of 𘐱 *dew "true, real" Right side of 𗾟 *wạ "vast, wide" |
| P 75.212 | 2140 | 𗿥 | *·wjɨ̣ "old, aged" |
Left side of 𗿦 *mja "female" Right side of 𘒺 *nar "old" |
| P 76.141 | 1454 | 𘆃 | *bjɨ̣ "gibbon" |
Middle of 𘂶 *wjị "monkey" Right side of 𘜶 *ljịj "big" |
| P 77.211 | 2087 | 𗾮 | *zjɨ̣ "what time" |
Left side of 𗿳 *dzjɨj "time" Right side of 𗤄 *·jɨr "to ask, inquire" |
| P 79.151 | 3645 | 𗾌 | *wejr "a type of bird" |
Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" Left side of 𗯿 *wejr "flourishing" |
| P 81.272 | 3851 | 𘀕 | *tser "spot" |
Middle of 𗿀 *tser "land, soil" Right side of 𗙾 *kiwəj "golden" |
| P 82.121 | 2107 | 𗿀 | *tser "land, soil" |
Middle of 𗦴 *me̱ "god, deity" Right side of 𗼻 *ljɨ̣ "land, soil" Right side of 𗼱 *dzjiw "land, soil" |
| P 82.212 | 3109 | 𗾏 | *·wer "crane" |
Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" Right side of 𘉤 *wer "to meet" |
| P 83.241 | 3151 | 𗪻 | *mar "oath" |
Left side of 𗥛 *rjɨr "bone" Right side of 𗡔 *ŋwụ "to swear an oath" |
| P 88.122 | 3571 | 𗿑 | *xwər "crane" |
Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" Right side of 𗼄 *tśier "benefit, interest" Right side of 𗩯 *sjwij "clear" |
| P 89.231 | 2778 | 𗥛 | *rjɨr "bone" |
Right side of 𗌄 *low "skeleton" Right side of 𗧜 *lhu̱ "marrow" |
| P 90.231 | 2766 | 𗿇 | *kjiwr "wild duck" |
Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" Right side of 𗖬 *kjiwr "urgent" |
| P 91.162 | 2383 | 𗂖 | *bowr "bag" |
Middle of 𘅌 *bju "to crawl" Whole of 𗾡 *bowr "bee" |
| P 91.171 | 2462 | 𗾡 | *bowr "bee" |
Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" Whole of 𘊏 *kjij "insect" |
| P 91.172 | 3608 | 𗿴 | *bowr "woman's breast" |
Whole of 𗾡 *bowr "bee" Right side of 𗁮 *tśhji "flesh" |
| P 92.151 | 3302 | 𗩀 | *kjwɨr "a type of bird" |
Left side of 𗪌 *kjwɨ̱r "Xiongnu" Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" |
| P 92.211 | 2975 | 𘉀 | *tsji̱r "an official" |
Right side of 𘛅 *dzjɨ̣ "official title" Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" |
| P 92.241 | 2628 | 𗾖 | *go̱r "male" |
Right side of 𘜶 *ljịj "big" Middle of 𗸱 *no "son" |
| P 93.111 | 3052 | 𗌜 | *njo̱r "water, dew" |
Left side of 𗋽 *zjɨ̱r "water" Right side of 𘚖 *lwo "damp" Right side of 𘌤 *djɨ̣ "ribbon" |
| Z 11.112 | 2801 | 𗧜 | *lhu̱ "marrow" |
Left side of 𗤶 *nji̱j "heart, mind" Right side of 𗥛 *rjɨr "bone" |
| Z 12.111 | 2238 | 𗾐 | *lhjwị [a surname] |
Left side of 𗿊 *low "body" Middle of 𗏥 *lju̱ [a surname] |
| Z 12.132 | 2240 | 𗿓 | *lhə "a type of insect" |
Right side of 𘝀 *phji̱ "to fly" Right side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" |
| Z 14.111 | 2655 | 𗾣 | *dzjị "tall, high" |
Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" Right side of 𘖎 *wjịj "short, brief" |
| Z 17.231 | 3126 | 𗿷 | *dźjij "to have, to possess" |
Right side of 𘜶 *ljịj "big" Whole of 𘟣 *dju "to have, to possesss" |
| Z 18.242 | 1324 | 𗳥 | *dźju̱ "to forbear" |
Right side of 𘓯 *khjow "to give, to bestow" Left side of 𗿒 *khwej "big" |
| Z 2.112 | 5420 | 𘍿 | *n— "eagle" |
Left side of 𘎃 *·we "bird" Bottom of 𗔟 *n— [a surname] |
| Z 4.122 | 2669 | 𗿝 | *dze "wild goose" |
Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" Right side of 𗨜 *dze "longevity" |
| Z 4.232 | 3589 | 𗿳 | *dzjɨj "time" |
Left side of 𗾞 *njɨ̱ "sun, day" Right side of 𗑝 *tsewr "section" |
| Z 5.251 | 1935 | 𘉂 | *dzjɨj "ditch, moat" |
Right side of 𗽂 *ɣew "trench" Right side of 𘉀 *tsji̱r "an official" Right side of 𗿀 *tser "land, soil" |
| Z 6.133 | 1329 | 𘞃 | *dźjow "flag, banner" |
Left side of 𘞄 *ljɨ̱ "flag" Right side of 𘜶 *ljịj "big" |
| Z 7.242 | 3087 | 𗾆 | *dzjiw "waist" |
Bottom of 𘗴 *kjir "waist" |
| Z 7.251 | 2262 | 𗿼 | *dźjwow "bird" |
Left side of 𗿤 *dźjwow "mating" Left side of 𘝋 *dzjwɨ "wing" |
| Z 7.252 | 2260 | 𗿤 | *dźjwow "mating [of birds]" |
Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" Right side of 𘟢 *·we "mating" |
| Z 8.162 | 3332 | 𗩳 | *dźiwe "to pull, to drag" |
Left side of 𗨟 *dź— "oblique, awry" Right side of 𘆗 *śiə "to rotate" |
| Z 9.151 | 0774 | 𗙫 | *·a [used for Sanskrit transcription] |
Left side of 𗙏 *ɣiẹ "sound, noise" Whole of 𗿢 *zur "edict, order" |
| Z 20.162 | 1387 | 𘗾 | *lhjij "to sacrifice, to butcher" |
Left side of 𘘀 *śji̱ "livestock" Right side of 𗣣 *tshji "food" |
The Chinese Radical model does not seem to apply to Tangut. In Chinese a particular radical has a single semantic determinative function, whereas for Tangut the same radical may have many different semantic functions depending upon the source character from which it is taken. Or, more accurately, a particular "radical" does not have an inherent semantic determinative function, but rather, its semantic function in any given character depends on the source character that the radical is derived from. This helps explain why there are so many characters with the 'person" radical 𘢌 (about 20% of all Tangut characters include this element; see Marc Miyake's How Many People are in the Tangut Script?) — this element does not have an inherent sense of "person" in the same way that the Chinese ⼈ *rén "person" radical has, but can mean almost anything depending upon the character that it is derived from.
It is possible to group characters with the 𘤊 radical into several different categories (as shown below), based on its source character as given in the Sea of Characters. By far the largest category of characters are those related to birds and flying, but as this is only one of several semantic categories covered by this radical, you cannot assume that any character with this radical is related to birds or flying (unlike Chinese, for which you can assume that almost any character with the ⿃ *niǎo "bird" or ⾶ *fēi "flying" radical is related to birds or flying respectively). In fact, of the 102 characters in the above table, only about half of them can be grouped into the semantic categories shown below. The other half are idiosyncratic, and have to be considered one at a time.
A. Characters Related to Birds and Flying (𘤊 = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird")
Of the 32 characters in this category, 24 have the radical on the left, 6 on the right, and 3 in the middle (one character has the radical on the left and in the middle), so although the left-hand side is the most common position for the radical, it is not fixed, and may occur on the right-hand side or in the middle of the character as well.
- 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" = 𗿤 *dźjwow "mating" + 𘝋 *dzjwɨ "wing"
- 𘝀 *phji̱ "to fly" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𘝋 *dzjwɨ "wing"
- 𗿻 *ku "phoenix" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𘜶 *ljịj "big" + 𘎃 *·we "bird"
- 𗾎 *kjwi "turtledove" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𗰰 *kjir [a surname]
- 𘂕 *ta "swallow" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𗾙 *lew "little bird"
- 𗿽 *mja "a type of bird" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𗿦 *mja "female"
- 𗿍 *śja̱ "a type of bird" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𗉋 *tśiow "to assemble" + 𗰛 *dzjịj "to cross, to pass"
- 𗿛 *bã "goose" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𗞢 *bã "tray"
- 𗿘 *tshjɨ "a type of bird" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𗅻 *tshjɨ "lamb"
- 𗿬 *kjwɨ "turtledove" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𗯢 *gjwɨ "to cut, to break"
- 𗿭 *mjɨ̱ "pheasant" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𗩫 *mjɨ̱ "woman"
- 𗿌 *tśjij "a type of bird" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𘓫 *tśjij [a surname]
- 𗿨 *kiwəj "cuckoo" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𗔤 *kiwe "dark"
- 𘀉 *źjiw "bird" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𘀐 *źjiw "six, sixth"
- 𗿶 *liẹj "crow" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𗰞 *nja̱ "black"
- 𗾌 *wejr "a type of bird" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𗯿 *wejr "flourishing"
- 𗾏 *·wer "crane" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𘉤 *wer "to meet"
- 𗿑 *xwər "crane" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𗼄 *tśier "benefit, interest" + 𗩯 *sjwij "clear"
- 𗿇 *kjiwr "wild duck" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𗖬 *kjiwr "urgent"
- 𗿝 *dze "wild goose" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𗨜 *dze "longevity"
- 𗩀 *kjwɨr "a type of bird" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𗪌 *kjwɨ̱r "Xiongnu"
- 𗍘 *pja "butterfly" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𗍎 *pja "dark green"
- 𗾡 *bowr "bee" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𘊏 *kjij "insect"
- 𗿓 *lhə "a type of [flying?] insect" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𘝀 *phji̱ "to fly"
- 𗼍 *ɣu "god, supernatural being [that can fly?]" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𗼙 *ɣu "emperor"
- 𗿃 *də̣ "beautiful [of a bird?]" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𘕡 *zewr "graceful, elegant"
- 𗿤 *dźjwow "mating [of birds]" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𘟢 *·we "mating"
- 𗾋 *tẹ "[bird] shit" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𗏡 *kụ "behind"
- 𘉀 *tsji̱r "an official [a high-flyer?]" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𘛅 *dzjɨ̣ "official title"
- 𗾣 *dzjị "tall, high" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𘖎 *wjịj "short, brief"
- 𗿡 *·wẽ [a place name] = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𗩇 *·wẽ [a surname]
- 𗭴 *·jow [a surname] = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𗂽 *·jij "sheep" + 𗿀 *tser "land, soil"
B. Characters Related to Bone (𘤊𘠢 = 𗥛 *rjɨr "bone")
As discussed in Part 1, modern Tangut dictionaries use systems of radical indexing that are based in arbitrary, artifical radicals. However, it should be possible to generate a list of natural radicals used in the Sea of Characters. The bone-related characters in this category all use the two right-hand elements of the character 𗥛 *rjɨr "bone", and so 𘤊𘠢 would form a single natural radical in a hypothetical Sea of Characters radical system.
- 𗥛 *rjɨr "bone" = 𗌄 *low "skeleton" + 𗧜 *lhu̱ "marrow"
- 𘚷 *ljɨ "round bone (?)" = 𗥛 *rjɨr "bone" + 𘚶 *ljɨ "wind"
- 𗼝 *ljo "round bone" = 𗥛 *rjɨr "bone" + 𗼕 *ljo "good fortune"
- 𗧜 *lhu̱ "marrow" = 𗥛 *rjɨr "bone" + 𗤶 *nji̱j "heart, mind"
- 𗹼 *khiwa "kidney" = 𗥛 *rjɨr "bone" + 𗹭 *bjij "high"
C. Characters Related to Smoke and Steam (𘤊 = 𗿉 *ɣju "smoke, mist" or 𘔳 *lwew "steam, smoke")
- 𗿉 *ɣju "smoke, mist" = 𘔳 *lwew "steam, smoke" + 𗞦 *kjur "to smoke sth."
- 𗊌 *nju "sweat" = 𘔳 *lwew "steam, smoke" + 𗊻 *śjo "sweat"
- 𘔳 *lwew "steam, smoke" = 𗿉 *ɣju "smoke, mist" + 𘔺 *khji "gas, steam"
- 𗿺 *nju̱ "smoke" = 𗿉 *ɣju "smoke, mist" + 𘃠 *du̱ "to store"
D. Characters Related to Food (𘤊 = 𗣣 *tshji "food")
- 𗣣 *tshji "food" = 𗢯 *lhjwa "tongue" + 𗮘 *śjwi "food"
- 𗿧 *tsə̣ "medicine" = 𗣣 *tshji "food" + 𗼫 *sju "medicine"
- 𘗾 *lhjij "to sacrifice, to butcher" = 𗣣 *tshji "food" + 𘘀 *śji̱ "livestock"
E. Characters Related to Time (𘤊 = 𗿳 *dzjɨj "time")
- 𗿳 *dzjɨj "time" = 𗾞 *njɨ̱ "sun, day" + 𗑝 *tsewr "section"
- 𗾓 *ljɨ "noon" = 𗿳 *dzjɨj "time" + 𘆂 *ljij "noon"
- 𗾮 *zjɨ̣ "what time" = 𗿳 *dzjɨj "time" + 𗤄 *·jɨr "to ask, inquire"
F. Characters Related to Virtuousness (𘤊 = 𗾈 *me̱ "virtuous person")
- 𘓱 *ŋwə "heaven, emperor" = 𘓺 *ŋwər "heaven" + 𗾈 *me̱ "virtuous person"
- 𗹐 *twụ "loyal" = 𗹑 *tśjɨj "upright" + 𗾈 *me̱ "virtuous person"
G. Characters Related to Marriage (𘤊 = 𗼍 *sa̱ "close relative")
- 𗼍 *sa̱ "close relative" = 𗒂 *njạ "marriage" + 𗿅 *·jɨ "marriage"
- 𗿅 *·jɨ "marriage" = 𗼍 *sa̱ "close relative" + 𗒂 *njạ "marriage"
H. Characters Related to the Waist (𘤊 = 𗾆 *dzjiw "waist")
- 𗾆 *dzjiw "waist" = 𘗴 *kjir "waist"
- 𗾝 *zji̱w "to hang" = 𗾆 *dzjiw "waist" + 𗭍 *dźjịj "to go, to send"
Whilst we can classify some of the characters with the 𘤊 radical according to semantic categories, as shown above, we can more usefully classify characters according to the functions of the component elements that comprise each character.
A. Phonetic plus Semantic Constructions
These constructions are similar to Chinese Radical plus Phonetic constructions, but whereas Chinese phonetic elements usually have a narrow range of phonetic values, and the reading of an unknown character can often be guessed from its phonetic element, Tangut phonetic elements do not have a fixed phonetic value, but represent the phonetic value of the character from which the element is derived. Thus the element 𘤏 represents *źjiw in the character 𘀉, but represents *tser in the character 𘀕, and so if an unknown character were to include the element 𘤏, we could not guess what phonetic value it represented ... or even whether it had a phonetic function or a semantic function.
- 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" = 𗿤 *dźjwow "mating" + 𘝋 *dzjwɨ "wing"
- 𗿽 *mja "a type of bird" = 𗿦 *mja "female" + 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird"
- 𗾎 *kjwi "turtledove" = 𗰰 *kjir [a surname] + 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird"
- 𗿛 *bã "goose" = 𗞢 *bã "tray" + 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird"
- 𗿘 *tshjɨ "a type of bird" = 𗅻 *tshjɨ "lamb" + 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird"
- 𗿬 *kjwɨ "turtledove" = 𗯢 *gjwɨ "to cut, to break" + 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird"
- 𗿭 *mjɨ̱ "pheasant" = 𗩫 *mjɨ̱ "woman" + 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird"
- 𗿌 *tśjij "a type of bird" = 𘓫 *tśjij [a surname] + 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird"
- 𗿨 *kiwəj "cuckoo" = 𗔤 *kiwe "dark" + 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird"
- 𘀉 *źjiw "bird" = 𘀐 *źjiw "six, sixth" + 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird"
- 𗾌 *wejr "a type of bird" = 𗯿 *wejr "flourishing" + 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird"
- 𗾏 *·wer "crane" = 𘉤 *wer "to meet" + 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird"
- 𗿇 *kjiwr "wild duck" = 𗖬 *kjiwr "urgent" + 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird"
- 𗿝 *dze "wild goose" = 𗨜 *dze "longevity" + 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird"
- 𗩀 *kjwɨr "a type of bird" = 𗪌 *kjwɨ̱r "Xiongnu" + 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird"
- 𗍘 *pja "butterfly" = 𗍎 *pja "dark green" + 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird"
- 𗼍 *ɣu "god, supernatural being [that can fly?]" = 𗼙 *ɣu "emperor" + 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird"
- 𗿤 *dźjwow "mating [of birds]" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𘟢 *·we "mating"
- 𗿡 *·wẽ [a place name] = 𗩇 *·wẽ [a surname] + 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird"
- 𘚷 *ljɨ "round bone (?)" = 𘚶 *ljɨ "wind" + 𗥛 *rjɨr "bone"
- 𗼝 *ljo "round bone" = 𗼕 *ljo "good fortune" + 𗥛 *rjɨr "bone"
- 𘍿 *n— "eagle" = 𗔟 *n— [a surname] + 𘎃 *·we "bird"
- 𘛲 *gu̱ "to patrol" = 𘛯 *gu̱ [a surname] + 𘕂 *dźjij "to go"
- 𗾸 *be "illness" = 𗾇 *be "mad" + 𗥓 *ŋo "disease"
- 𘇭 *sjwi "to tie" = 𗝊 *sjwi "roof beam" + 𘌤 *djɨ̣ "ribbon"
- 𗈹 *sji̱ "to inspect" = 𘕨 *sji̱ "to cry, to wail, to lament" + 𗈲 *khwa "far"
- 𗍜 *pja "broad, shallow" = 𗍘 *pja "butterfly" + 𗼗 *djɨj "shallow"
- 𗿦 *mja "female [of human or animal]" = 𗿽 *mja "a type of bird" + 𘓱 *me̱ "swallow" or *ŋwə "heaven, emperor" (?)
- 𗿮 *pə "elder, senior" = 𗲟 *pə "ore" + 𗿒 *khwej "big"
- 𗱁 *thjɨ "to call, to speak" = 𗱃 *thjɨ "east, end" + 𗱌 *thu "to release"
- 𗾲 *tshjɨ "name of a star" = 𗿘 *tshjɨ "a type of bird" + 𘛶 *tśjɨ̱r "star, constellation"
- 𗿯 *djị "to tread" = 𗿞 *djị "to mate" + 𘈷 *gji "son, child" (!)
- 𗿞 *djị "to mate" = 𗿯 *djị "to tread" + 𗄬 *dzjɨj "sexual intercourse"
- 𘀕 *tser "spot, mark [on a deer]" = 𗿀 *tser "land, soil" + 𗙾 *kiwəj "golden"
- 𗂖 *bowr "bag" = 𗾡 *bowr "bee" + 𘅌 *bju "to crawl" (!)
- 𗿴 *bowr "woman's breast" = 𗾡 *bowr "bee" + 𗁮 *tśhji "flesh"
B. Phonetic plus Phonetic Constructions
In some cases where a character his no intrinsic meaning, for example family or clan names, the character may be constructed from two homophonous phonetic elements.
- 𘛯 *gu̱ [a surname] = 𘛴 *gu̱ "a spirit" + 𘛲 *gu̱ "to patrol"
C. Semantic Constructions
Many characters do not have a phonetic element at all, but comprise two or more elements with a semantic function, which taken together explain the meaning of the character, either directly (e.g. "black" + "bird" = "crow") or indirectly (e.g. "bird" + "wing" = "to fly"). In some cases the semantic elements may help us better understand the meaning of a character. For example, the known meaning of 𗿍 is only "a type of bird", but as its middle component elements comes from a character that means "to assemble", it is probable that the type of bird is one that is usually found in large flocks. As another example, the Lǐ Fànwén dictionary definition for the two characters 𗿷 *dźjij and 𘟣 *dju is the same (有 = "to have" or "to possess"), but the fact that the left side of 𗿷 is derived from the character 𘜶 *ljịj "big" suggests that it may mean something more like "to have much" or "to have everything", and so is subtly different in meaning to 𘟣 (this impression is strengthened by the fact that when reduplicated 𗿷 means "all, every").
- 𘝀 *phji̱ "to fly" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𘝋 *dzjwɨ "wing"
- 𗿻 *ku "phoenix" = 𘜶 *ljịj "big" + 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𘎃 *·we "bird"
- 𘂕 *ta "swallow" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𗾙 *lew "little bird"
- 𗿍 *śja̱ "a type of [flocking?] bird" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𗉋 *tśiow "to assemble" + 𗰛 *dzjịj "to cross, to pass"
- 𗿶 *liẹj "crow" = 𗰞 *nja̱ "black" + 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird"
- 𗾡 *bowr "bee" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𘊏 *kjij "insect"
- 𗿓 *lhə "a type of [flying?] insect" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𘝀 *phji̱ "to fly"
- 𗿃 *də̣ "beautiful [of a bird?]" = 𘕡 *zewr "graceful, elegant" + 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird"
- 𗾋 *tẹ "[bird] shit" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𗏡 *kụ "behind, bottom"
- 𘉀 *tsji̱r "an official [a high-flyer?]" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𘛅 *dzjɨ̣ "official title"
- 𗧜 *lhu̱ "marrow" = 𗥛 *rjɨr "bone" + 𗤶 *nji̱j "heart, mind"
- 𗊌 *nju "sweat" = 𘔳 *lwew "steam, smoke" + 𗊻 *śjo "sweat"
- 𗣣 *tshji "food" = 𗢯 *lhjwa "tongue" + 𗮘 *śjwi "food"
- 𗿧 *tsə̣ "medicine" = 𗣣 *tshji "food" + 𗼫 *sju "medicine"
- 𘗾 *lhjij "to sacrifice, to butcher" = 𗣣 *tshji "food" + 𘘀 *śji̱ "livestock"
- 𗿳 *dzjɨj "time" = 𗾞 *njɨ̱ "sun, day" + 𗑝 *tsewr "section"
- 𗾓 *ljɨ "noon" = 𗿳 *dzjɨj "time" + 𘆂 *ljij "noon"
- 𗾮 *zjɨ̣ "what time" = 𗿳 *dzjɨj "time" + 𗤄 *·jɨr "to ask, inquire"
- 𘓱 *ŋwə "heaven, emperor" = 𘓺 *ŋwər "heaven" + 𗾈 *me̱ "virtuous person"
- 𗹐 *twụ "loyal" = 𗹑 *tśjɨj "upright" + 𗾈 *me̱ "virtuous person"
- 𗼍 *sa̱ "close relative" = 𗒂 *njạ "marriage" + 𗿅 *·jɨ "marriage"
- 𗿅 *·jɨ "marriage" = 𗼍 *sa̱ "close relative" + 𗒂 *njạ "marriage"
- 𗾝 *zji̱w "to hang" = 𗾆 *dzjiw "waist" + 𗭍 *dźjịj "to go, to send"
- 𗾤 *ɣju "to ask, to call" = 𗿄 *khju "to request, to ask" + 𗄼 *lja "to come"
- 𗗪 *kji̱ "commerce, trade" = 𗗥 *źjị "to buy and sell" + 𘒨 *phjij "to express oneself" + 𗍋 *khjɨ̱ "to gather"
- 𘓠 *ɣa "sorrow" = 𗤶 *nji̱j "heart, mind" + 𗪆 *sjwɨ̱ "to think"
- 𗈲 *khwa "far" = 𗈱 *rjar [a participle] + 𗈹 *sji̱ "to inspect" + 𗎘 *bju "border, side"
- 𘖁 *tsha "empty bag" = 𗻍 *bu "reed-mace, cattail" + 𗮺 *tsə̣ "lungs" + 𗍊 *sju "as, like"
- 𗉅 *tsja "hot" = 𗜐 *mə̱ "fire" + 𗾔 *be "sun"
- 𗿁 *phjɨ "to hear" = 𗾤 *ɣju "to ask, to call" + 𗣦 *śjwiw "to follow" + 𗓁 *mji "to listen, to hear"
- 𗪆 *sjwɨ̱ "to think" = 𗤶 *nji̱j "heart, mind" + 𗾫 *sji̱j "thought" + 𗍊 *sju "as, like"
- 𗬴 *ləj "equal, even" = 𗅋 *mji "not" + 𗣫 *tsəj "small, little, young" + 𗿒 *khwej "big"
- 𗿾 *·wjị "east, tail end" = 𘙎 *lhji "to give birth to" + 𗾔 *be "sun"
- 𗻲 *tswə̣ "dung" = 𗺕 *kji̱ "grass" + 𗆑 *gja̱ "to swallow"
- 𗿥 *·wjɨ̣ "old, aged [of a woman]" = 𗿦 *mja "female" + 𘒺 *nar "old"
- 𘆃 *bjɨ̣ "gibbon" = 𘜶 *ljịj "big" + 𘂶 *wjị "monkey"
- 𗾖 *go̱r "male" = 𘜶 *ljịj "big" + 𗸱 *no "son"
- 𗿷 *dźjij "to have, to possess [a lot?]" = 𘜶 *ljịj "big" + 𘟣 *dju "to have, to possesss"
- 𗳥 *dźju̱ "to forbear" = 𘓯 *khjow "to give, to bestow" + 𗿒 *khwej "big"
- 𘉂 *dzjɨj "ditch, moat" = 𗽂 *ɣew "trench" + 𘉀 *tsji̱r "an official" + 𗿀 *tser "land, soil"
- 𘞃 *dźjow "flag, banner" = 𘜶 *ljịj "big" + 𘞄 *ljɨ̱ "flag"
- 𗩳 *dźiwe "to pull, to drag" = 𗨟 *dź— "oblique, awry" + 𘆗 *śiə "to rotate"
C. Synonym Constructions
Some characters are composed from elements from one or more characters with the same or very similar meaning to itself.
- 𗾆 *dzjiw "waist" = 𘗴 *kjir "waist"
- 𗥛 *rjɨr "bone" = 𗌄 *low "skeleton" + 𗧜 *lhu̱ "marrow"
- 𗿉 *ɣju "smoke, mist" = 𘔳 *lwew "steam, smoke" + 𗞦 *kjur "to smoke sth."
- 𘔳 *lwew "steam, smoke" = 𗿉 *ɣju "smoke, mist" + 𘔺 *khji "gas, steam"
- 𗿜 *tśhji "shame, disgrace" = 𗾹 *tshwu "shame, disgrace" + 𗼊 *sew "shy, bashful" + 𗏣 *ljijr "direction"
- 𗿀 *tser "land, soil" = 𗼻 *ljɨ̣ "land, soil" + 𗼱 *dzjiw "land, soil" + 𗦴 *me̱ "god, deity"
- 𗌜 *njo̱r "water, dew" = 𗋽 *zjɨ̱r "water" + 𘚖 *lwo "damp" + 𘌤 *djɨ̣ "ribbon"
D. Obscure Constructions
Some constructions are difficult to understand, especially family names and place names. Do we lose something in translation ? Or maybe textual corruption in the Sea of Characters has resulted in the correct source character being replaced by a similar but different character ?
- 𘃷 *nju [a surname] = 𗨛 *rjɨr "to go out, to give birth" + 𗍊 *sju "as, like"
- 𗭴 *·jow [a surname] = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𗂽 *·jij "sheep" + 𗿀 *tser "land, soil"
- 𗿵 *ɣa [a surname] = 𗍃 *·jiw [a place name] + 𗪙 *mur "vulgar"
- 𗦌 *swã [a surname] = 𗤳 *mə [a surname] + 𗪆 *sjwɨ̱ "to think"
- 𗾐 *lhjwị [a surname] = 𗿊 *low "body" + 𗏥 *lju̱ [a surname]
- 𗙫 *·a [used for Sanskrit transcription] = 𗙏 *ɣiẹ "sound, noise" + 𗿢 *zur "edict, order"
- 𗿑 *xwər "crane" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𗼄 *tśier "benefit, interest" + 𗩯 *sjwij "clear"
- 𗾣 *dzjị "tall, high" = 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" + 𘖎 *wjịj "short, brief"
- 𗿺 *nju̱ "smoke" = 𗿉 *ɣju "smoke, mist" + 𘃠 *du̱ "to store"
- 𗹼 *khiwa "kidney" = 𗥛 *rjɨr "bone" + 𗹭 *bjij "high"
- 𗾶 *xju "empty" = 𗾙 *lew "little bird" + 𗥪 *rjɨj "to teach"
- 𗾇 *be "mad" = 𗾷 *dzjị "owlet" + 𗕶 *ɣạ "crazy"
- 𘀚 *tśhio "origin, source" = 𘀗 *tshjwu "sky, heaven" + 𘏨 *ljɨ̣ "treasure" + 𗿀 *tser "land, soil"
- 𗾦 *tśjo "chaotic" = 𗊌 *nju "sweat" + 𗿎 *lew "confused"
- 𗪻 *mar "oath" = 𗥛 *rjɨr "bone" + 𗡔 *ŋwụ "to swear an oath"
- 𘏨 *ljɨ̣ "treasure" = 𘐱 *dew "true, real" + 𗾟 *wạ "vast, wide"
Based on this study of a single radical, it seems to me that Tangut does have "radicals", but that they are very different to Chinese radicals. Firstly, each component element of a Tangut character is a radical, so most Tangut characters have two or three radicals. Secondly, Tangut radicals do not have a fixed semantic meaning or phonetic value, but are used to connect one character to another character, so that each character is related through its radicals to two or three other characters, forming a network of interrelated characters. However, as the source character for any given radical is not explicit, but has to be looked up in the Sea of Characters (or some other long lost Tangut reference book), the radicals cannot be used to guess the meaning or pronunciation of an unknown character. At best — and this is perhaps their original intent — radicals can be used as mnemonic devices to help the learner read and write Tangut characters.
2.3 Characters with Unitary Composition
The vast majority of Tangut characters are composed of at least two distinct components, and their compositional analysis in the Sea of Characters describes them as the product of two or more other characters. However, there are a few characters with a unitary composition (30-40, depending upon how you count them), for example the character 𗾆 "waist", which is composed only of the radical 𘤊. In the Sea of Characters, the composition of this and other unitary characters with head entries is described in subtractive terms as deriving from a more complex element with one part removed :
- 𗢨 *dzjwo "person" (Z 15.221) = top removed from 𘑘 *śji "celestial being"
- 𘑘 *śji "celestial being" (P 15.212) = top of 𘑗 *ŋər "hill, mountain" and whole of 𗢨 *dzjwo "person"
- 𗸕 *khwə "half" (P 34.271) = top of 𘓳 *ŋowr "whole" and right of 𘏄 *tjị "to get rid of"
- 𗾆 *dzjiw "waist" (Z 7.242) = top removed from 𘗴 *kjir "waist"
- 𘂆 *tsjɨ "little" (P 38.261) = left removed from 𗀹 *zji "little, young [bird or animal]"
- 𗀹 *zji "little, young [bird or animal]" (P 18.151) = right of 𗏑 *no̱ "weak" and left of 𘂎 *la "small"
- 𘂪 *dzjij "single" (Z 15.172) = [left of] 𗅋 *mji "not" removed from 𗄴 *twe̱ "pair, couple"
- 𘇰 *tśhji "old" (P 21.171) = [left of] 𗺕 *kji̱ "grass" removed from 𘇵 *tśhjɨ "reed-mace, cattail"
- 𘉋 *·jar "eight" (P 85.232) = top removed from 𗒹 *śjạ "seven"
- 𗒹 *śjạ "seven" (P 70.171) = uses 𗑗 *sej "clean" (!) and the whole of 𘉋 *·jar "eight"
- 𘉟 *pjụ "to compel" (P 65.112) = top [left] of 𘉡 *pjụ "power" and right of 𘉐 *·iow "contribution, achievement"
- 𘉡 *pjụ "power" (P 64.273) = whole of 𘉟 *pjụ "to compel" and left of 𘉍 *bji "bright"
- 𘉐 *·iow "contribution, achievement" (P 63.111) = right of 𗤓 *thjo̱ "beautiful" and left of 𗵺 *wạ "to win"
- 𘌢 *zu "belt, band" (P 6.243) = top [right] of 𗥕 *zu "to tie up" and bottom [left] of 𘌥 *bej "to tie up"
- 𘌥 *bej "to tie up" (P 43.241) = right of 𗥕 *zu "to tie up" and left of 𘏛 *bej "rope"
- 𘔧 *gjụ "seat, post, stick" (P 64.251) = top [right] of 𗹢 *djọ "to build" and bottom [right] of 𗥍 *gjụ "post, pillar, seat"
- 𘗤 *tsjɨ̱r "fifth son" (P 92.111) = left removed from 𗉨 *tśjɨ̱r "five"
- 𘘤 *dźjɨ "skin" (Z 6.171) = [whole of] 𗼻 *ljɨ̣ "land" removed from 𗽸 *lhjɨ̱ "epidermis"
- 𗽸 *lhjɨ̱ "epidermis" (P 41.262) = [left of] 𗽖 *tshji "east", [right of] 𗹨 *·jɨj "tent, building" and whole of 𘘤 *dźjɨ "skin"
- 𘙬 *tow "insect" (P 59.243) = left removed from 𗏚 *bjij "dung beetle"
- 𘝣 *niəj "turbid, muddy" (P 51.131) = made from 𗒊 (𗇻) *niəj "dirt" with the top removed
- 𘞆 *bji "thin" (P 16.222) = is the left side of 𗻬 *źjɨ̣r "thin"
Most of these characters are described using the formula "[component] X of [character] Y removed", and would seem to imply that the simpler unitary character is derived from the more complex character. However, in most of the cases where the source character also has a head entry in the Sea of Characters, we find that there is a circular derivation, for example the character 𗢨 "person" is stated to derive from the character 𘑘 "celestial being" by the removal of its top component, but 𘑘 "celestial being" is stated to derive from the character 𗢨 "person" plus the top of the character 𘑗 *ŋər "mountain". The latter analysis makes a lot of sense as it parallels the construction of the corresponding Chinese character, 仙 "celestial being", which is constructed from the character 人 "person" plus the character 山 "mountain". On the other hand there is no obvious explanation why the Tangut character for "person" should be derived from "celestial being" minus the "mountain" top. As another example, the character 𘂪 *dzjij "single" is stated to derive from the character 𗄴 *twe̱ "pair, couple" with the left side removed, where the left side of 𗄴 is defined as the left side of the character 𗅋 *mji "not". This is a very confused definition ("single" = "pair" minus "not"), but from it we can reconstruct a very sensible compositional definition for the character 𗄴 *twe̱ "pair, couple" (which does not have a head entry in the Sea of Characters) : 𗄴 *twe̱ "pair, couple" = left side of 𗅋 *mji "not" plus whole of 𘂪 *dzjij "single" (i.e. "pair, couple" = "not" + "single"). In at least these two cases, it seems to me that the compositional definition of the unitary character is simply the inverse of the compositional definition of a complex character that is composed from the unitary character. Other compositional descriptions of unitary characters are also very contrived and unbelievable, such as those for the characters 𘌢 *zu "belt, band" and 𘔧 *gjụ "seat, post, stick", which in both cases derive the unitary character from two halves of the component corresponding to this unitary character in two different complex characters. Thus, I think that unitary characters are not secondary derivations from complex characters as implied by their analysis in the Sea of Characters, but that the compositional definitions of unitary characters are secondary back-formations from the compositional definitions of other characters, perhaps simply intended as mnemonics rather than as a true analysis of the derivation of such characters.
2.4 Characters with Circular Composition
The compositional analysis in the Sea of Characters often includes pairs of characters with circular derivations, as for example the following two examples :
- Left side of 𗿼 *dźjwow "bird" ⇔ left side of 𗿤 *dźjwow "mating [of birds]"
- Top and left side of 𗿞 *djị "to mate" ⇔ top and left side of 𗿯 *djị "to tread"
These circular constructions are disturbing, as they appear to suggest that the Sea of Characters analyses are flawed.
2.5 Mapping the Web of Characters
In conclusion, the compositional analysis of Tangut characters given in the Sea of Characters does help to understand how characters were constructed, and I think that in most cases the analyses are correct, and do reflect the mechanisms by which the characters were created. However, there are problems with the analyses of unitary characters, and for many characters with circular derivations, which suggest that the analyses in the Sea of Characters cannot be relied on uncritically.
To better understand the mechanisms by which Tangut characters were created, it would be necessary to fully map out the structural relationships between all the characters in the Sea of Characters. This would not only allow us to better understand the process by which the Tangut script was created, but it might also enable us to better understand the meanings of individual characters, or in some cases even to reconstruct or correct the pronunciations of characters.
Appendix I: Note on the Positional Forms of Components
Many or most Tangut components are not positionally fixed, but can occur at the left, middle, right, top or bottom of a character. For example the most common Tangut component, 𘢌 (Nishida's 'person' radical) occurs in all these positions :
- L2603 𗣦 (left)
- L4593 𗡋 (middle)
- L2386 𗁑 (right)
- L1883 𗬌 (top)
- L1148 𗕌 (bottom)
- L3779 𗫾 (left and under)
The 'person' component takes basically the same form in whatever position it occurs, but some components have slightly different forms for the left hand side (or middle) and for the right hand side, with the right hand form often having a bent vertical stroke and sometimes with an additional short slanting stroke at the end :
- L1273 𘄟 (left hand form = 𘤒) and L5599 𘂱 (right hand form = 𘤸)
- L5064 𘁗 (left hand form = 𘤜) and L3569 𗤣 (right hand form = 𘦙)
- L3940 𘞣 (left hand form = 𘫉) and L4447 𘜹 (right hand form = 𘫊)
- L5629 𗰈 (middle form = 𘠌) and L5167 𗰆 (right hand form = 𘠴)
In some cases it is difficult to see that different components are actually different positional forms of the same basic component, and it is only by studying the compositional analysis in the Sea of Characters that we are able equate seemingly different components. For example, Nishida's 'water' radical 𘠣 occurs in the form 𘠅 on the right hand side of a character, and in the form 𘡍 on top of a character (see Marc Miyake's Which Way Water?), as demonstrated by the Sea of Characters analyses of L2931 and L5809 :
- L2931 𗕆 = left hand side of L2699 𗄻 + middle of L3898 𘀼 + left hand side of L2414 𗋒
- L5809 𗕆 = left hand side of L3073 𗊉 + bottom of L4845 𗒿
[Revised: 2010-05-03 and 2010-05-21]
Last modified: 2017-01-01 (updated with Unicode Tangut characters)
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