The Origin of Chinese Characters : An Illustrated History and Word Guide

Used in East Asia for over 2000 years, the Hanzi (set of Chinese characters) is beautiful in typography and from an artistic perspective. Today's Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese character sets all originated here. However, due to historical and cultural changes, few people remember and recognize the original meanings of the characters. Therefore, it essentially required the skills of a talented code-breaker to discern the etymology and history behind them. Relating details of Chinese history, anthropology and culture, the author shows how characters evolved from simple illustrations into more calligraphic symbols. Copious illustrations of archaeological artifacts and scenes from ancient life give the cultural context. For the more ambitious readers, vocabulary (with a pronunciation guide) is introduced in a friendly format and the author also provides step-by-step diagrams showing how to produce 600 words in proper Chinese calligraphy. Table of Contents Introduction Part 1天(Tian=T’ien) Heaven 1. The God Of Heaven East Asian philosophy starts with “One” “The God of Heaven” above the Human The most important principles in the universe: Heaven, Human, and Earth 2. The King Who Is The Agent Of Heaven The King Who Wears a Shining Crown The King Wearing Yellow Jade Decoration Ceremony to Pray to the Earth Soil & Jade, the soul of the earth 3. Aristocrats Wear Horns The Shaman shakes bells and conducts the ceremony Meaning of gods in bronze plates Smelling the food and celebrating their ancestors A beautiful Shaman wearing lamb’s horns 4. The Religious Ceremony With Rice, Wine, Meat And Blood The vassals standing in their own place Wine and meat brings fortune Government official offers celebratory prayer Bow down to god A plate containing blood 5. Animal Sacrifices For Religious Ceremonies Various animals were used for ceremonial sacrifice Meat for rituals prepared carefully Tigers and dogs as ritual sacrifices A Ceremony of a Cow in Water 6. Messengers of God: Bronze, and Bones Message of god sent through bronze plate Sacred Bones which show the god’s anger and joy 7. The People From The Sun And The Stars The Sun; the god over all living things The stars as gods in heaven Part 2. 人 (Ren) Human 1. People A person with his back bent A wise old man with long hair and a kid with a “soft” head A person who goes ahead; the ancestor Sage: One who listens Woman with her knees bent A Visitor to the House 2. Family Dynamics Ancestors and sacrifices Father with jade panel: Authority Wife, mother Elder brother gives orders; younger brother obeys Grandchild Pregnancy and breastfeeding Raising the baby or abandoning the baby 3. Body Parts Face/Head and eyes Right and Left hands 4. House, Food, and Clothes House made out of hay House with doors Dishes and food Wine for sacred ceremony Weaving cloth A garment with a tail 5. Everyday Activities Going Out Roads in four directions Sit down and rest under the trees Bathing in a big tub Tattoos Listen, laugh or cry Think and love 6. Knowledge & Learning Book/ Volume Tossing four sticks to tell a fortune Five elements of the universe 7. Money & Partying Seashells as currency Making ornaments or money with seashells Seashell coins Precious shiny particles in the soil Playing music Dancing 8. War Making weapons The Commander readies the army Recruiting soldiers for justice Attack at a “timely opportunity” Travel to war Shooting arrows Injury in battle Broken blade Defeated side; Broken bronze plate 9. Death Retired, sick, dying Death Part 3 地 (Di) Earth 1. From Water To Water Breathing of the earth Underworld beneath the spring Endless river Vapor floating in the sky 2. Farm Farming the Lands 3. Fun Chinese with Animals Cow with horns Elephant with decorations Human supports elephant Crazy dog Is a dragon an alligator or a bear? Crouching owl The Stork observes Worms and bugs Scorpions on a stick 4. Hunting Using stones to hunt The Flight of a clever bird 5. Grain The smallest grain, millet Grain used in ceremonies Sacred barley from the heavens Writing Exercise - Part 1 1. The God of Heaven 2. The King Who Is the Agent of Heaven 3. Aristocrats Wear Horns 4. The Religious Ceremony With Rice, Wine, Meat And Blood 5. Animal Sacrifice For Religious Ceremonies 6. Messengers Of God: Bronze, And Bones 7. The People from the Sun and the Stars Writing Exercise - Part 2 人Ren, Human 1. People 2. Family Dynamics 3. Body Parts 4. House, Food, and Clothes 5. Everyday Actions 6. Knowledge & Learning 7. Money & Partying 8. War 9. Death Writing Exercise - Part 3 地 Di, Earth 1. From Water to Water 2. Farm 3. Fun Chinese With Animals 4. Hunting 600 Basic Chinese Words In China, an educated person has to know 8,000 characters or more - a daunting task by any measure. Meanwhile, Western students struggle to learn a few hundred of them. How much easier it is to learn, when you have a clue as to the origins and hidden meanings of the symbols! An enthusiastic educator and a highly esteemed scholar in Chinese calligraphy explores ancient life in China and shows how the characters derived from early pictograms. He presents groups of words together with glimpses of early life, opening our eyes to Asian traditions and concepts as well as the words to describe them.