The Mystery of “Square Characters”: Ruminations on the Cultural Roots and Aesthetic Value of Chinese Characters
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: This paper delves into the cultural roots of Chinese characters as square characters and their aesthetic value. It analyses the reasons for the formation of the square character form by sorting out the evolution of Chinese characters from oracle bone inscriptions, bronze inscription, seal script to official script, regular script and running script. The paper further elaborates on the cultural genetic codes contained in the characters, such as heaven and earth, the five elements and the time of the year, as well as the influence of writing materials and tools on the formation of the characters. In addition, the paper explores the unique aesthetics of square characters, including its directness of image and its role in shaping the spirit of the nation. The formation of square characters is closely related to traditional cultural concepts such as “heaven and earth”, the five elements and the time of the year, as well as being profoundly influenced by the evolutionary characteristics of Chinese characters and writing tools. The contribution of this paper is to provide a new perspective for understanding the cultural connotation and aesthetic value of Chinese characters, to emphasise their importance in modern society, and to provide a theoretical basis and inspiration for future research on Chinese characters.
Author: Xintian Zheng
Institution: Xiamen University Tan Kah Kee College
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4404866579