The semantic evolution of Sino character terms for the future in East Asia

This paper investigates the conceptual change of the dominant Sino-character terms for the future in East Asia. It reveals there has been a shift in the most frequently used terms for the future between pre-modern and modern times in some East Asian countries. Using both qualitative and quantitative analysis, this paper demonstrates how a minor term for the future, primarily used in Buddhist contexts in pre-modern society, has become the dominant term in modern China and Korea. This shift reflects the unique historical experiences of each East Asian country, including its encounters with the West. Finally, this paper examines how the usage of these two terms for the future expresses the hierarchical structure of the East Asian view of the future.

► We trace historical semantics of two main Sino character terms for the future.
► The most popular term in traditional society now lacks the progressive meaning in China and Korea.
► The other term of religious origin solely represents the Westernized future in two countries.
► This shift in terms is utilized by the elite to control the image of the future.