Old or obsolete Kanji

The Japanese language is basically based on kanji, originally Chinese characters. The Nelson Japanese dictionary has listed in its last version, more than 7,000 different entries.
In 1923, as a matter of simplification the Ministry of Education specified 1,962 kanji and 154 simplified characters. This 1st guide is called the Joyo Kanji (常用漢字). A similar process of kanji simplification occurred in China as well as in Korea however on different basis.

The Joyo kanji guide has been revised and updated regularly, the last edition in 2010 has a list of 2,136 characters. The 2,136 kanji in the jōyō kanji consist of:

– 1,026 kanji taught in primary school
– 1,110 additional kanji taught in secondary school

It means that the Japanese language has had an important evolution and that today most of the young generations have difficulties to read document issued during Meiji period or early 20th century.
It is worst with calligraphy due to the wide use of word processors!

The table below gives a simple list of the old forms of kanji which we may find on Kutani ceramic signatures.