Chinese calligraphy : an introduction to its aesthetic and technique : with 6 plates and 155 text illustratons

ORIGIN AND CONSTRUCTION OF CHARACTERS

(2) Similar in form but different in meaning :

; throne parallel line sieve Ancient Egyptian: [,\ \ ©

hundred rosy (}{% T‘ung) a conical cap Ancient Chinese: ®B Y >

(3) Different in form but similar in meaning : Ancient Egyptian :

leg stone window basket garden grass worship

jl @ B Y ww y St

Ancient Chinese :

leg- stone window basket garden grass worship

ei fo B88 gE te ens

(4) Both form and meaning different :

bottle lamp Ancient Egyptian : Om) 44

mortar chief or master

Ancient Chinese : ey By

The above tables suggest that the processes of human thought are probably very similar all over the world. It must be the processes of expression which differ. Here, the method of constructing a character in Chinese is seen to be ‘sketchy’, while in Egyptian it is elaborate and exact. The one has strong simplified lines, and is ‘ idealistic’ ; the other is “ photographic ’, a kind of painting—‘ realistic’. By the time that the Egyptian

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