The writing of "襖"


It seems that 襖 has two forms of writing. Here are the two screenshots from
[Jisho.com](https://jisho.org/search/%E8%A5%96%20%23kanji):

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/J01S2.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/J01S2.png)

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/pVaGH.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/pVaGH.png)

The first kanji has an extra stroke (ノ).

My questions are the following:

  1. Why does it have two forms?

  2. Are they both acceptable in handwriting?




This is a typical matter of locality-related differences. The form on the top
is accepted in Japan, as well as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea; it's the
traditional one from the Kangxi Dictionary:

[![KX](https://i.stack.imgur.com/AZwSM.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/AZwSM.png)

The form below is the variant accepted as normative in Mainland China.

As for "whether both forms are acceptable in handwriting," yes, they are and
no, they are not, but not for the reason above. The simpler form below was
introduced to the Japanese computer standard JIS X 0208 in its revision of
1983, replacing the form above; it was called an enforcement of [extended
shinjitai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_shinjitai), that is,
forcefully replacing the components in more complex characters by simplified
versions if there are other characters with the same simplification (in this
case, Jōyō kanji 奧 has been obligatorily simplified to 奥).

However, in Japan legally only less than 2’000 Joyo kanji are supposed to be
simplified[1](https://i.stack.imgur.com/AZwSM.png), unlike the at least
(though in practice no more than) 8’000 of Mainland use. Hence, during the
revision of 2004, the old form was restored, and it is the complex form that
is included in Jinmeiyō list and is thus allowed in personal names.

To keep things short: yes, everyone accepts the simplified version, because
since 1983 tht was the only thing they could (easily) type in computers. No,
that's not official, and when writing someone's personal name, you'd rather
keep the complex form, as only it is allowed. None of it matters, as in fast
writing they are probably indistinguishable.

Appendix: you may use this glyph 襖 (U+8956) to check whether your font adheres
to the 2004 forms. Also, with a good font you may choose the forms, by adding
U+E0100 symbol after the character to force the simple form, and U+E0101 for
the complex form.

[1](https://i.stack.imgur.com/AZwSM.png) Yes, less than 2’000. The new
additions since the original inception of Jōyō list are not simplified at all,
and that’s shy there are such mismatches as 録 (original) vs. 剝 (added). Yes,
that’s a mess.

