Most of the world’s languages are written alphabetically; in an alphabetic writing system the basic components represent sounds only without any reference to meaning. For example, the letter “b” in ...

Is the Chinese writing system a sufficient reason on its own to guarantee that Mandarin will not become a global language like English? That’s what someone asked me after I discussed the prima facie ...

Michael uncovers clues to China’s first dynasty, the Shang, in a traditional drug store. Michael Wood tells how China’s greatest archaeological discovery started with a packet of over the counter ...

Feng Shi confirmed that inscriptions on ceramic stands from Liulinxi are the earliest known Chinese characters, appearing in groups rather than alone, making them easier to interpret. Replicas of ...

Calligraphy, literally "beautiful writing," has been appreciated as an art form in many different cultures throughout the world, but the stature of calligraphy in Chinese culture is unmatched. In ...

CHICAGO One of the stars of the Oriental Institute’s new show, “Visible Language: Inventions of Writing in the Ancient Middle East and Beyond,” is a clay tablet that dates from around 3200 B.C. On it, ...