chinese Writing scripts
Chinese writing script consists of thousands of characters, each character represented an illustration or picture, like a logogram. Characters consists of a single or multiple strokes and lines within an imaginary square.
There has been various forms of Chinese scripts throughout the development of communication and writing. Each form becoming more advanced as time progressed...
Oracle Bone Script(甲骨文): 1500BC - 1000BC
The oracle bone script was used in the Shang Dynasty, this was the earliest writing script recorded. Incised on animal bones and turtle shells, the oracle bone script was very pictographic, each character closely resembled a picture. There are approximately 2500 - 3000 characters recorded in the oracle bone script.
There has been various forms of Chinese scripts throughout the development of communication and writing. Each form becoming more advanced as time progressed...
Oracle Bone Script(甲骨文): 1500BC - 1000BC
The oracle bone script was used in the Shang Dynasty, this was the earliest writing script recorded. Incised on animal bones and turtle shells, the oracle bone script was very pictographic, each character closely resembled a picture. There are approximately 2500 - 3000 characters recorded in the oracle bone script.
Great Seal Script(大篆): 1100BC - 700 BC
The great seal script was particularly popular from the late Shang dynasty to the mid-Zhou dynasty. The great seal script was carved on bronze vessels instead of turtle shells so the style of writing is a little different from the oracle bone script.
Lesser Seal Script(小篆): 475BC - 8 AD
The lesser seal script is a combination between the great seal script and the oracle bone script. Used from the late Warring States period to early Han Dynasty, the lesser seal script was more stylised and less pictographic than earlier writings. With over 3300 characters recorded, the lesser seal script is very similar to modern Chinese.
Clerical Script(隶书): 221BC - 220AD
With history dating back to 500 BC, the clerical script was widely used during the Qin dynasty and Han dynasty. Widely used by government bureaucrats, the clerical script was a simpler form of the lesser seal script, faster and more efficient to write.
The great seal script was particularly popular from the late Shang dynasty to the mid-Zhou dynasty. The great seal script was carved on bronze vessels instead of turtle shells so the style of writing is a little different from the oracle bone script.
Lesser Seal Script(小篆): 475BC - 8 AD
The lesser seal script is a combination between the great seal script and the oracle bone script. Used from the late Warring States period to early Han Dynasty, the lesser seal script was more stylised and less pictographic than earlier writings. With over 3300 characters recorded, the lesser seal script is very similar to modern Chinese.
Clerical Script(隶书): 221BC - 220AD
With history dating back to 500 BC, the clerical script was widely used during the Qin dynasty and Han dynasty. Widely used by government bureaucrats, the clerical script was a simpler form of the lesser seal script, faster and more efficient to write.
Standard Script(楷书): 220 BC - Present
The standard script, now known as Traditional Chinese writing, existed since the Bronze Age of China (1700 BC), it was very popular during the Han Dynasty and is still used now in the People's Republic of China. The standard script is similar to the clerical script, however, the standard script is slightly more cursive, containing serif-like like elements at the end of strokes.
Running Script / Semi-Cursive Script(行书): 220BC - Present
The running script has been used since the Han Dynasty all the way until now. The running script is a more cursive version of the standard script.
Cursive Script(草书): Unknown
The time where cursive script was used is not accurate, but it was thought to be from the Han Dynasty to the Jin Dynasty. The cursive script is a shorthand script, consisting of very cursive characters, hard to comprehend but fast and efficient to write.
Simplified Chinese(简体字): 1949 - Present
Simplified Chinese is the writing script that the majority of people in China currently use. Simplified Chinese was adopted to eradicate illiteracy because of it's simplicity and effectiveness. There are currently over 80,000 Chinese characters, however, most of these are almost never used.
The standard script, now known as Traditional Chinese writing, existed since the Bronze Age of China (1700 BC), it was very popular during the Han Dynasty and is still used now in the People's Republic of China. The standard script is similar to the clerical script, however, the standard script is slightly more cursive, containing serif-like like elements at the end of strokes.
Running Script / Semi-Cursive Script(行书): 220BC - Present
The running script has been used since the Han Dynasty all the way until now. The running script is a more cursive version of the standard script.
Cursive Script(草书): Unknown
The time where cursive script was used is not accurate, but it was thought to be from the Han Dynasty to the Jin Dynasty. The cursive script is a shorthand script, consisting of very cursive characters, hard to comprehend but fast and efficient to write.
Simplified Chinese(简体字): 1949 - Present
Simplified Chinese is the writing script that the majority of people in China currently use. Simplified Chinese was adopted to eradicate illiteracy because of it's simplicity and effectiveness. There are currently over 80,000 Chinese characters, however, most of these are almost never used.