Chinese Calligraphy: From Pictograph to Ideogram: The History of 214 Essential Chinese/Japanese Characters

Written Chinese employs about 40,000 characters, many of which originated some 6,000 years ago as simple pictures of everyday objects used by ancient people to communicate with one another. This book introduces readers to the 214 root pictographs or symbols upon which this writing system, whose rich complexities hold a wealth of cultural meaning, is based. These key characters, called radicals, are delightfully presented in this volume, with their graphic development traced stage by stage to the present representation, where even now one can easily make out what was originally pictured — with the author’s guidance.

• Author: Edoardo Fazzioli
• Size: 9.3" x 6.5"
• Pages: 252
• Hardcover
• Publication: 2005