Graphic abbreviation of Chinese characters in Vietnam: A case study of “dot and bend” in Sino-Nom texts

Abstract

This article describes research on “dot and bend” ([Formula: see text]) as a graphic abbreviation of Chinese characters in Sino-Nom books and stele inscriptions. Documentary survey results show that the sign “dot and bend” may be an abbreviation of a whole character (錢, 饒) or a radical (食, 金, 君, 镸, 雚) on the left of a character. This abbreviation appeared in Vietnam from the 12th to the early 20th century, which had some specific characteristics in comparison with Chinese characters in China, Japan and Korea.