The Chinese hieroglyphic letter is considered one of the most ancient types of writing. The invention of hieroglyphs and their wide circulation contributed to development of cultural not only China, but also some other countries this region. It is considered that the first graphic signs used for transmission of messages appeared in China more than six thousand years ago.
Instruction
1. On ruins of the Chinese settlements the researchers found several thousands of various inscriptions which can be carried surely approximately to the IV millennium B.C. Inscriptions were represented with certain regularities and had lines of modern Chinese hieroglyphs. Comparing features of graphic tracings, scientists came to a conclusion that it is about so-called protohieroglyphs, predecessors of writing.
2. In the form of a harmonious system the Chinese hieroglyphic letter was issued much later – in the middle of the second millennium B.C. Historical data demonstrate that in those days the Chinese culture reached the high level of the development.
3. Finds of bones of animal and turtle armors which were widely used for guessing belong to the 16th century B.C. Researchers found hieroglyphic inscriptions on surfaces of these objects. The armor or a bone cleaned previously from pollution and polished. Then signs in the form of hyphens and deepenings which by the form reminded the pictogram – the pictural letter were applied on a bone. Was considered that such inscription unambiguously gave the answer to the question asked the soothsayer.
4. Today one and a half hundred fragments of armors of turtles on which several thousands of hieroglyphic symbols are cut skillfully out are known. About a half of signs received the interpretation, but the remained graphics meanwhile do not give in to interpretation. And still the ancient Chinese letter allowed to make quite complete idea of an economic, political and cultural situation of that period of the Chinese history.
5. There were much later images of hieroglyphs which were cast on bronze objects and economic utensils. These tracings conditionally refer to the styles having the names "Small Press" and "Authorized Press". Emergence of paper, ink and a hair brush laid the foundation for formation of classical handwriting when writing hieroglyphs.
6. Modern Chinese hieroglyphs are more standardized, than their ancient prototypes, and contain about ten thousand signs. Still hieroglyphs designate not separate sounds, but the whole images or concepts. The main lines of ancient hieroglyphs found reflection in the national systems of the letter which use in China, Japan, Vietnam and Korea.