simplified characters not derived from chart 1 and chart 2 of 简化字总表

Question

I just came across 汹 which is the simplified version of 洶. I was quite surprised as 汹 is not mentioned in neither Chart 1 and Chart 2 of the structural simplification of characters. Another example is 蹤 which is derived in 踪 -, although not being part of chart 1- and despite the simplification from chart 2 從->从. I thought learning all characters from both chart 1 and 2 would be sufficient to be able to find the simplified version of any traditional character.

How consistent is the method of simplification, why publish those lists if they are not used consistently, are there any other characters which have a simplified form not derived from chart 1 and 2?

Answer 1

The reason for why 汹 and 踪 being not listed in the 简化字总表 is:

They have been already used in the old times as variant characters with the same meaning, so they were listed in 异体字整理表 (Chart of Variant Characters). Although they are usually considered as simplified characters (even by native speakers sometimes), they are actually traditional characters.

For example, you can find 汹 in 康熙字典

【汹】《集韻》與洶同。 Jiyun: the same as 洶.

And you can find 踪 in 彙音寶鑑

【踪】仝蹤，踪迹。 The same as 蹤, means 踪迹 (trace).

So for your question:

"How consistent is the method of simplification, why publish those lists if they are not used consistently, are there any other characters which have a simplified form not derived from chart 1 and 2?"

I would say if you want to distinguish variant characters between mainland China and Taiwan / Hong Kong, it is better to learn 异体字整理表 (Chart of Variant Characters) as well.

BTW, good guess for 從->从 => 蹤->𧿛.

is also a variant of 蹤, though it is not usually used today.