Chinese Characters

The Origin of Chinese Characters

Chinese characters, which became a complete Chinese characters, which became a complete character system after a long period of character system after a long period of development, are ideograms that were created development, are ideograms that were created independently and were based on pictographic independently and were based on pictographic symbols.symbols.

Mr. Tang Lan put forward the idea in his Mr. Tang Lan put forward the idea in his Introduction to the Ancient Writing Introduction to the Ancient Writing that characters that characters originated from pictures, which has become long originated from pictures, which has become long established.established.

The Origin of Chinese Characters The existence of pre-historical paintingThe existence of pre-historical painting Totemism performed a great function.Totemism performed a great function. Forms, pronunciations and meanings confirmedForms, pronunciations and meanings confirmed The development from pictures which transferred The development from pictures which transferred

information to the birth of Chinese characters, information to the birth of Chinese characters, from picture characters and totemism symbols to from picture characters and totemism symbols to set symbols, constituted the whole process of the set symbols, constituted the whole process of the origin of Chinese characters.origin of Chinese characters.

The sufficient accumulation and deliberate The sufficient accumulation and deliberate regulation of individual charactersregulation of individual characters

The Origin of Chinese Characters

The limitation of this kind of pictographThe limitation of this kind of pictograph Many things with similar appearances and Many things with similar appearances and

difficult to distinguish by simple linesdifficult to distinguish by simple lines The demand of the enrichment and The demand of the enrichment and

perfection of characters and language for perfection of characters and language for the lack of needs of communicationthe lack of needs of communication

New methods of “the Six Categories of New methods of “the Six Categories of Chinese Characters”Chinese Characters”

the Six Categories of Chinese Characters

It marked the maturation of Chinese It marked the maturation of Chinese characters summed up by Xu Shen of Hancharacters summed up by Xu Shen of Han

The first: Pictographic Characters, which The first: Pictographic Characters, which describe objects by the form.describe objects by the form.

日，月，山， 水日，月，山， 水………… The most primitive and basic word-The most primitive and basic word-

formation methodformation method

the Six Categories of Chinese Characters

The second: Self-Explanatory Characters, The second: Self-Explanatory Characters, which use symbols to refer to abstract which use symbols to refer to abstract concepts on the pictographic basisconcepts on the pictographic basis

上，（ ），下，（ ）上，（ ），下，（ ） The third: the Associative Compounds, The third: the Associative Compounds,

which combine two or more words together which combine two or more words together to show a new meaningto show a new meaning

采，尖，劣，信，看，家采，尖，劣，信，看，家…………

the Six Categories of Chinese Characters

The fourth: Pictophonetic Characters, words The fourth: Pictophonetic Characters, words with one element indicating meaning and with one element indicating meaning and the other soundthe other sound

竽，宇，渔，遇，愚，喻，屿，榆竽，宇，渔，遇，愚，喻，屿，榆………… Pictophonetic Characters account for a large Pictophonetic Characters account for a large

part of Chinese characters, precisely, over part of Chinese characters, precisely, over 80%.80%.

the Six Categories of Chinese Characters

The fifth: the Phonetic Loan Characters, The fifth: the Phonetic Loan Characters, which borrow the words of similar sounds which borrow the words of similar sounds to show new concepts. Therefore, there to show new concepts. Therefore, there appeared the complicated phenomenon of appeared the complicated phenomenon of homograph (words with identical forms but homograph (words with identical forms but different meanings)different meanings)

令令 , , 汤（荡）汤（荡）…………

the Six Categories of Chinese Characters

The six: Mutually Explanatory Characters The six: Mutually Explanatory Characters (words with same radicals, same sounds, (words with same radicals, same sounds, same or similar meanings which can explain same or similar meanings which can explain one another)one another)

考（老），来（小麦），求（毛皮）考（老），来（小麦），求（毛皮）………… To sum up, the Six Categories of Chinese To sum up, the Six Categories of Chinese

Characters is the six fundamental rules over Characters is the six fundamental rules over structure and usage of the Chinese characters, structure and usage of the Chinese characters, and is also the major principles.and is also the major principles.

The Development of Chinese Characters

To begin with, the Inscriptions on Bones To begin with, the Inscriptions on Bones and Tortoise Shells of Xia and Shang and Tortoise Shells of Xia and Shang DynastiesDynasties

Inscriptions on Ancient Bronze Objects and Inscriptions on Ancient Bronze Objects and Bronze Inscriptions meeting the needs of Bronze Inscriptions meeting the needs of “lasting long”“lasting long”

The Big Seal Characters used by Qin in The Big Seal Characters used by Qin in W.S.P.W.S.P.

The Qin State made The Qin State made XiaozhuanXiaozhuan (the Small (the Small Seal Characters), which is considered the Seal Characters), which is considered the most important reform.most important reform.

The inscribed stone of Qin State on Mt. TaiThe inscribed stone of Qin State on Mt. Tai XiaozhuanXiaozhuan is a bridge connecting the is a bridge connecting the

ancient Chinese characters and the modern ancient Chinese characters and the modern ones.ones.

The Development of Chinese Characters

The Development of Chinese Characters

The Official Script came into being in Qin and The Official Script came into being in Qin and took the place of took the place of XiaozhuanXiaozhuan in Han. in Han.

The Official Script had almost lost all the The Official Script had almost lost all the pictographic characteristics and the Chinese pictographic characteristics and the Chinese characters were transformed into written symbols, characters were transformed into written symbols, which were purely made up of strokes.which were purely made up of strokes.

The Official Script is a milestone in Chinese The Official Script is a milestone in Chinese characters’ development, laying a solid foundation characters’ development, laying a solid foundation for the square Chinese characters.for the square Chinese characters.

The Development of Chinese Characters

During the Han Dynasty, the Official Script During the Han Dynasty, the Official Script developed into a standard letter-form, and further developed into a standard letter-form, and further evolved into the Cursive Hand.evolved into the Cursive Hand.

Zhangcao (the Ancient Cursive Hand) with strokes Zhangcao (the Ancient Cursive Hand) with strokes of grass style, easier and quicker to writeof grass style, easier and quicker to write

Jincao (Today’s Cursive Hand), more fluently and Jincao (Today’s Cursive Hand), more fluently and quickly writtenquickly written

Kuangcao (the Unchained Cursive Hand), very Kuangcao (the Unchained Cursive Hand), very difficult to read and became a pure artdifficult to read and became a pure art

The Development of Chinese Characters

The Regular Script came into being in the end The Regular Script came into being in the end of Han, which had steady and well-balanced of Han, which had steady and well-balanced structure and was square in shape.structure and was square in shape.

Easy to read and write, it can serve as a model. Easy to read and write, it can serve as a model. Therefore, it is called Regular Script.Therefore, it is called Regular Script.

The Regular Script reached its climax during The Regular Script reached its climax during the Tang Dynasty.the Tang Dynasty.

The Running Hand started to exist between the The Running Hand started to exist between the Cursive Hand and the Regular Script.Cursive Hand and the Regular Script.

Major Schools of Chinese Calligraphy

Calligraphy comprises the way in which Calligraphy comprises the way in which characters are written and the standards according characters are written and the standards according to which they are written.to which they are written.

Calligraphy includes five aspects: the way of Calligraphy includes five aspects: the way of handling the brush; the way of writing; the handling the brush; the way of writing; the structure; the pattern; the way to sign or use a seal.structure; the pattern; the way to sign or use a seal.

The Regular Script and the Cursive Hand are The Regular Script and the Cursive Hand are widely used in schools and the most profound in widely used in schools and the most profound in their influences.their influences.

Major Schools of Chinese Calligraphy

The four schools of the Regular Script: The four schools of the Regular Script: Ouyang Xun, Yan Zhenqing, Liu Ouyang Xun, Yan Zhenqing, Liu Gongquan, Zhao MengfuGongquan, Zhao Mengfu

Schools of the Cursive Hand: the Two Schools of the Cursive Hand: the Two Wangs (Kings) (Wang Xizhi, “the Wangs (Kings) (Wang Xizhi, “the Calligraphy Saint and Wang Xianzhi, his Calligraphy Saint and Wang Xianzhi, his son); Zhi Yong and Sun Guoting; Zhang Xu son); Zhi Yong and Sun Guoting; Zhang Xu and Huai Su (the Two Uniques of Kuang and Huai Su (the Two Uniques of Kuang Cao)Cao)

欧阳询《《九成九成宫醴泉宫醴泉铭铭》》

颜真卿

《《多多宝塔宝塔碑碑》》

柳公权

《《玄玄秘塔秘塔碑碑》》

王羲之

《《兰亭兰亭序序》》

王献之《《鸭鸭头丸头丸帖帖》》