摹

Phono-semantic compound:

手 (손 수) — semantic, indicating hand action

莫 (없을 막) — phonetic component giving mo/mawk sound

Thus the original sense is “to follow with the hand; to trace; to copy.”

Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字):

「摹，法也。」

“摹 means to model or imitate” — showing abstract sense.

Originally meant tracing patterns, especially:

- tracing bronze inscriptions

- copying calligraphy

- reproducing paintings

- taking rubbings (precursor to 拓本)

Later broadened to imitating or modeling after something.

In Korean, 摹(모) appears mainly in academic, artistic, literary, and historical settings.

Copying / tracing:

摹本 (모본) — 본떠 그린 것; copy, traced model

摹寫 (모사) — 베껴 그림; to copy (artwork) by tracing

摹畫 (모화) — 그림을 모사함; copy a painting

摹拓 (모탁) — 탁본의 모사; tracing + rubbing reproduction

Modeling / imitating:

摹倣 (모방) — 본떠서 따라함; imitation

摹擬 (모의) — 흉내내어 그림; to imitate, emulate

摹形 (모형) — 본떠 만든 모습; model, mold, replica

Calligraphy & historical texts:

摹碑 (모비) — 비문 본뜨기; stone-rubbing reproduction

摹帖 (모첩) — 서첩을 베끼기; copying calligraphic model books

Academic:

摹寫本 (모사본) — 필사/모사로 만든 사본; traced manuscript

These reflect the traditional artistic and scholarly function of 摹.

摹 vs 模:

摹 — “to trace, copy, imitate”

模 — “pattern, model; imitation (abstract)”

Although related historically, they are distinct characters.

摹 is central in:

- reproduction of calligraphy

- study copies (摹本)

- transmission of ancient texts through rubbings

- copying Buddhist sutras

Before printing, 摹 was essential in preserving artwork and inscriptions, especially during dynasties where originals were lost.

Classical citations:

《北史·崔光傳》 (History of the Northern Dynasties)

「好摹古帖，以成書法。」

“He loved tracing ancient calligraphic models and thereby perfected his handwriting” — 摹 = to trace copybooks.

《唐書·顏真卿傳》 (Old Book of Tang)

「摹勒碑文，傳之後世。」

“They traced and engraved the stele inscription to pass it to later generations” — 摹 = copy by tracing → reproduce faithfully.

《宋史·藝文志》 (History of Song Dynasty)

「書畫多以摹拓流布。」

“Books and paintings were widely circulated through tracing and rubbings” — 摹 = reproduce by tracing.

These passages confirm the meaning copy, trace, imitate, reproduce.