Development and Transformations of Chinese Characters (Aesthetic and Communication Aspects)

Agnieška Juzefovič

Abstract


This article deals with traditional Chinese characters, discusses their historical development and transformation, discloses aesthetic and communication aspects of Chinese characters. Historical and mythological versions of appearing and development of Chinese Characters are presented and compared. Etymology of iconographical, semantic-phonetic and other components of traditional Chinese characters are analyzed. The author discloses  and analyzes historical evolution and aesthetical transformations of Chinese characters from the very oldest characters depicted on ceramics, turtle shells, seal script, clerical style, regular script. Thus particularity of communicational and aesthetic aspects of spontaneous running and cursive (grass) styles is highlighted. Review and analysis of various calligraphic styles brings to the conclusion that communication  which is mediated through Chinese characters has much stronger visual background  than communication via traditional Western phonetic script.


Article in: English

Article published: 2012-04-02

Keyword(s): Chinese characters; pictograms; semantic-phonetic signs; calligraphic styles; visual communication

DOI: 10.3846/cpc.2012.03

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Coactivity: Philosophy, Communication / Santalka: Filosofija, Komunikacija ISSN 2029-6320, eISSN 2029-6339
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