武周新字的来源及在吐鲁番墓志中的变异

Origins of New Words in the Wu Zetian Period and Their Variants in Turpan Epitaphs

改制新字是武则天称帝后的重要举措之一,朝廷以政令形式在全国推广普及18个新造字。本文从分析汉字的形体结构入手,结合古代字书的记载,认为武周新字大多来源于古文或古文的省形、变形。武则天颁布新字除政治目的外,也是希望回归淳朴的文字之风,传承先贤典籍。此外,文章以吐鲁番墓志为例探讨武周新字在边远地区的流传情况。吐鲁番虽地处边陲,但仍在严格执行朝廷政令,积极使用武周新字,只是在笔画和结构部件上有些变异。

Reform of new words is one of the important measures after Wu Zetian proclaimed herself the Emperor. Eighteen new words were coined and orders with legal effect were given for the use of these new words. Starting from analysis of the shape and structure of Chinese characters, in combination with the evidences of ancient records, this paper contends that most of Wu Zetian＇s new words originated from ancient words but in simplified or re-shaped form. Besides political purpose, Wu Zetian ＇s promulgation of new words was also intended to bring back the old fashion of simple words in the ancient time, inheriting the classics of the ancient sages. In addition, words in Turpan epitaphs are analyzed in order to reveal to what extent new words were spread. Back to the Wu Zetian＇s period, although Turpan was in the border area, far away from the central government, it still strictly implemented government decrees and used new words, except for some minor variation in strokes and structural components.