There are three types of characters of all nationalities in the world, namely, ideographic characters; Ideographic characters; Phonography. Chinese characters are typical ideographic characters developed on the basis of ideographic characters. The method of pictographic word-making is to draw the real thing. However, drawing tends to be more simplified and abstract, becoming a symbol that highlights the physical characteristics, representing a certain meaning and having a certain pronunciation ... Our Chinese characters, from pictures and symbols to creation and stereotypes, from ancient Chinese seal script to small seal script, and from seal script to official script, script, line and grass, have gradually taken shape. In the process of writing and applying Chinese characters, the unique and independent calligraphy art of all nationalities in the world has gradually emerged.
China's calligraphy art began in the generation stage of Chinese characters. "Sound can't spread in different places, but stay in different times, so words are born. The writer, therefore, is the trace of meaning and sound. " As a result, words are produced. The first works of calligraphy art are not words, but some depicting symbols-hieroglyphics or picture words.
The symbols of Chinese characters first appeared on pottery. The original depiction symbol only represents a rough concept of chaos and has no exact meaning.
More than 8, years ago, Cishan and Khan Lee cultures appeared in the Yellow River valley. There are many symbols on the hand-made ceramics unearthed in Khan Lee, Fiji. These symbols are the chaotic combination of the communication function, note-taking function and pattern decoration function of our ancestors. Although these are not true Chinese characters, they are indeed the embryonic forms of Chinese characters.
Following the Banpo site of Yangshao culture about 6, years ago, painted pottery with simple descriptions of similar characters was unearthed. These symbols have been distinguished from patterns, which has advanced the development of Chinese characters. This can be said to be the origin of China characters.
Then there are Erlitou culture and Erligang culture. In the archaeological excavation of Erlitou culture, there are 24 kinds of pottery tablets with carved marks, some of which are similar to Oracle inscriptions in Yin Ruins, and they are all single independent characters. Erligang culture has been found to have a writing system. Three bones with characters have been found here, two with one character and one with ten characters, which seem to be carved for practicing lettering. This has made civilization take another big step forward.
The origin of primitive characters is an imitation instinct, which is used to image a specific thing. Although it is simple and chaotic, it already has a certain aesthetic taste. This simple writing can therefore be called prehistoric calligraphy.