A Theory of the Origin of Chinese Writing

Abstract

It is not my purpose in this paper to initiate the reader into the mysteries of Chinese writing, nor to present a feat of sinological erudition. I merely wish to illustrate the application of a principle derived from the investigation of primitive ornamentation to the question of the origin of ancient Chinese writing. Every casual observer will be impressed by the decidedly ornamental and picturesque feature of Chinese characters; and this observation coincides perfectly with the view held by the Chinese themselves, that writing is an art a decorative art which is as eagerly aspired to, and occupies the same high rank, as painting. The art of painting itself received a strong impetus from that of penmanship, and is still markedly graphic in character. All the famous painters have at the same time been noted calligraphists; and their autographs, one or two words dashed off with a bold stroke of the brush, excite as much admiration and are as greatly prized as their sketches or water-colors. Writing, consequently, offered the first field for the practice of art : it was the beginning of drawing and painting; hence in view of this fact we are justified in questioning its claims, from the anthropological viewpoint, of the development of decorative art.