Study On The Historical Evolution Of The Structural Particle "Zhe"

The structural particle "zhe" is one of the most frequently used empty words in Ancient Chinese. Compared with Ancient Chinese, the research on the development of "zhe" after the Wei Jin Southern and Northern Dynasties Period is comparatively weak up to now. Therefore, we investigate and analyze the evolution of "zhe" from the pre-Qin Period to Modern Chinese, especially the decline and regeneration process of "zhe".Since the pre-Qin Period, the structural particle "zhe" has experienced generation, rise, development, and decline, and finally become an important affix in Modern Chinese. Based on the analysis of related data, this paper detailed and objectively describes the historical evolution of the structural particle "zhe".The structural particle "zhe" generated in "Shi Jing" Period, and rapidly developed in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. Its main function is to form "X+zhe" structure with verbs, adjectives, nouns, numerals and "X+suo" structure.During the Han Dynasty, the structural particle "zhe" continued to develop, the original function continued to expand, and produced some new usage. During the Wei Jin Southern and Northern Dynasties period, the use frequency of "zhe" decreased, while its "Zhuan Zhi" function further expanded, and occupied the field of "suo" and "zhi" step-by-step.Before the late Tang Dynasty, the structural particle "zhe" continued the trend form the Wei Jin Southern and Northern Dynasties period. However, after late Tang and Five Dynasties, the structural particle "de" appeared and developed rapidly, seizing the traditional areas of "zhe". As a result, the structural particle "zhe" began to decline. During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, the trend became more obvious, and during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the structural particle "zhe" cannot be found-in spoken Chinese.In modern Chinese, the structural particle "zhe" changes into an important affix and form a lot of words. There are many reasons for the revival of "zhe". On the one hand, the structural particle "zhe" has the potential to become affix "zhe" and there are many words containing "zhe" after its decline in Chinese. on the other hand, the translation of foreign concepts, the introduction of the Japanese words and the influence of classical Chinese inspire this potential.