Tangut Character 17954

A 2023 study proposes “to own” for one passage, not as a universal translation. The passage has 𗤝, glossed “to know”; the study argues it may be a copying error for 𗥔, matching a Tibetan phrase meaning “with.” This is evidence for one textual reading, not a guaranteed translation wherever the character appears.

The 2008 Tangut-Chinese Dictionary indexes 𗥔 at L2753; Clauson’s dictionary index lists it as #3780, folio 289. These are lookup references, not readings or modern names.

Why is 𗥔 a historical-script character?

It belongs to Tangut writing, made to write the Tangut language. The script was promulgated in 1036, two years before the Western Xia dynasty was founded, and was used alongside Chinese. It remained in use until the mid-Ming period. Tangut manuscripts from 1038–1227 include Buddhist biographies; surviving Tangut writing also appears in documents, inscriptions, and religious works.

Khitan and Jurchen scripts also developed in a medieval region where Chinese writing was influential, but they are separate writing systems. A square appearance alone does not make 𗥔 a Chinese character or show that it was borrowed from another script.