Characters of Han, minorities tell evolution of Chinese civilization

15:04, November 19, 2009  

Photo taken on November 16, 2009, shows the silver plates to commend high commissioners sent to Tibet by the Central Government of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) displayed in the Chinese Character Museum in Anyang, central China's Henan Province. They serve as the witnesses to the fact that Tibet has been part of China since ancient times. (Xinhua Photo)

The characters of Han and China's 40 ethnic minorities, including Tibetan, Hui, Uygur and Mongolian, tell the visitors the history of Chinese civilization at the newly opened Chinese Character Museum.

Covering a floor area of 34,500 sq m, the museum is located in Anyang City, central Henan Province, where the oracle script, the country's earliest inscriptions on bones and tortoise shells dating back more than 3,000 years, was discovered in 1899.

The museum shows the evolution of Chinese characters since ancient times, showcasing cultural relics, including rubbed stone inscriptions, bronze vessels, Chinese seal engraving, ancient coins, writing bamboo and silk, and calligraphy work from different dynasties.

Zhang Gongjin, a professor of Central University for Nationalities, said, "The museum treats equally the characters of Han and ethnic minorities, showcasing the inclusiveness and cohesion of the Chinese nation."

"The Chinese characters used by all ethnic groups in China constitute the 'cultural genes' of Chinese civilization and history," said Wang Yunzhi, a professor from Zhengzhou University.

Experts on characters believe that although the Han characters become the most widely-used ones in China, characters of ethnic minorities are playing an irreplaceable role in recording and passing down the culture of their own ethnic groups and have made a significant contribution to the development and spread of Chinese civilization.

Source: Xinhuanet