Empire of Written Symbols

Drawing on archaeology, palaeographic research and evidence of 20th century Chinese art and culture, this book offers a picture of how mental associations are formed. Among the characters discussed are those featuring the human body, wild and domestic animals and chariots and boats.

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The pictorial origins and history of Chinese script are here described by a scholar who uses language that is comprehensible to the general reader. Drawing on archaeology, paleographic research and evidence of 20th century Chinese art and culture, this book offers a picture of how mental associations are formed by visual images and symbols. Among the characters discussed are those featuring the human body, wild and domestic animals, chariots and boats, tools and weapons, even musical instruments. This book is designed to appeal to those interested in Chinese script and Chinese art and history.