The two folk characters of shèng (聖) — namely “垩” and “圣” — both derive from the regularization of the cursive script of shèng (聖). The process of cursive regularization for shèng (聖) followed a reductive sequence of “component simplification → dot-and-stroke substitution → extended horizontal ligature.” Regularization applied to the cursive form after “dot-and-stroke substitution” yields the graph “垩”, whereas regularization applied after “extended horizontal ligature” yields the graph “圣”. In certain variants, the lower component “壬” of shèng (聖) was corrupted into “土”, and these two shapes—“壬” and “土” —are preserved respectively in the graphs “垩” and “圣”. The graphic convergence of the folk characters of shèng (聖) and jīng (巠) stems from the fact that the vulgar form “ ” of jīng (巠) closely resembles “圣” and was assimilated to it through graphic corruption. The acceptance of this convergence by script users was further conditioned by the phonetic proximity and complementary distribution in usage between shèng (聖) and jīng (巠). Since the vulgar script forms of shèng (聖), jīng (巠), and guài (𡉄) are all written as “圣”, instances of erroneous substitution between shèng (聖) and guài (𡉄), as well as confusion between shèng (聖) and jīng (巠), can be observed in transmitted texts. Although such occurrences are relatively infrequent, they merit particular attention from researchers engaged in the collation and scholarly utilization of Ming and Qing documents involving these three characters.

目 錄
1.引言
2.“聖”的楷體字形來源
3.“聖”的草書楷化
    3.1 “垩[聖]”的楷化
    3.2 “圣[聖]”的楷化
4.“壬”與“土”形之訛同
5.“垩”“圣”形的興起與“圣”形的影響
    5.1 “垩”“圣”形所興時代
    5.2 俗字“圣”對文獻傳抄的影響
6.“聖”與“巠”的草書楷化形比較
    6.1 “”與“圣”外形近似而訛同
    6.2 “圣[聖]”與“圣[巠]”用字情況差異較大
    6.3 “圣[聖]”與“圣[巠]”音近關係
7.結語

• 付宇辰(南京師範大學文學院碩士研究生) | Yuchen FU
• 趙家棟(南京師範大學文學院教授，博士生導師) | Jiadong ZHAO