Language/Multiple-languages/Culture/Introduction-to-Han-script

Hi, polyglots!

Every time you see Han characters, you may see them as random strokes and wonder how other people memorise them. Once you have payed attention for a while and learned about the basics of Han script, they will become crystal clear to you.

in progress

Evolution of Han script

There is an evolution: Egyptian → Proto-Sinaitic → Phoenician → … → most scripts used today. Han script has its own: oracle bone script [甲骨文], bronze script [金文] and other scripts → seal script [篆書] → clerical script [隸書] → regular script [楷書].

There are artistic scripts derived from the regular script:

• running script [行書]
• grass script [草書]

There are also typefaces for printing:

• Song [宋體] / Ming [明體]
• Imitation Song [仿宋體]
• Gothic [黑體]

Glyph forms of early scripts are highly diverse. After the unification of China by Qin dynasty, glyph forms other than the ones used in the State of Qin are abolished. In the modern time, character glyph forms are standarised differently in different sovereign states and dependent territories.

Simplifications of Han characters take place in different times. Systematic simplifications include the creation of the clerical script in the State of Qin and the Chinese Character Simplification Scheme in the People's Republic of China.

script	image
oracle bone script	https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Oracle_bone_script
bronze script	https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Bronze_script
seal script	https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Seal_script
clerical script	https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Clerical_script
regular script	https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Regular_script
running script	https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Semi-cursive_script
grass script	https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_cursive_script

typeface	image
Song / Ming	https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Ming_(typefaces)
Imitation Song
Gothic

Creation and use of Han characters

It is mentioned that there are six categories of characters [六書] in the Rites of Zhōu [周禮] without explanation. Nowadays, those six categories of characters are thought to be

creation of characters

category of characters	explanation of the category	example	meaning of the example	explanation of the example
pictographs [象形字]	a character where concrete objects are depicted in pictorial form	日 月 山 水	sun moon mountain water	shape of a sun shape of a crescent moon shape of a mountain shape of a water stream
indicatives [指事字]	a character where abstract ideas are depicted in pictorial form	上 下 本 末	above below root, origin tip, end	a line above another line a line below another line root of a tree apex of a tree
compound ideographs [會意字]	a character consisting of two or more semantic components	武 信 采 比	martial trust pick compare	a dagger-axe and a foot a person with a speech a palm over a bush two persons side by side
phono-semantic compounds [形聲字]	a character consisting of a phonetic and a semantic components	時 場 銀 動	season, time place silver move	a sun and the reading of the word “office, temple” a soil and the reading of the word “sunlight” a metal and the reading of the word “blunt” the reading of the word “heavy” and a force

use of characters

category of characters	explanation of the category	example	meaning of the example	explanation of the example
derivative cognates [轉注字]	characters with different readings and meanings derived from the same original character; disputed as it is unnecessary to exist	考 / 老	examine / old	an old person leaning on a cane
loangraphs [假借字]	a character borrows another character's shape; the character being borrowed changes its form	北 其 自 某	north that self so-and-so	replacing the original word “back”, which is shown as two persons back to back; the replaced character becomes 背 replacing the original word “basket”, which is shown as a basket; the replaced character becomes 箕 replacing the original word “nose”, which is shown as a nose; the replaced character becomes 鼻 replacing the original word “plum”, which is shown as a plum; the replaced character becomes 楳