SYMBOLICAL WRITING.
It would seem that the earliest of all written language consisted of actual drawings of the forms of animals or things; rudely sketched, indeed, by the hands of our rude forefathers, but sufficiently plain to mark the object designed. This mode appears the more natural, because the representation of sounds, which express the names of things, by certain characters or alphabets, which is the mode now most extensively in use, must necessarily require some previous concert between two parties, the one of whom suggests, and the other agrees, that a particular mark or form on paper shall be the symbol for a particular sound. But if we suppose a savage separated from his friend, and wishing to communicate with him, without having had this previous consultation, and supposing that he has lent his distant acquaintance some articles offurniture, such as his bow and arrows, or his knife, which he is anxious to have returned, without the knowledge of his messenger, it seems highly probable, that his first impulse would be to make a rude sketch of these articles, and transmit the impression to his friend. Were the latter an acute man he would probably understand the allusion; and, were he not intelligent enough for this purpose, it is clear he would not be nearly sufficiently so to comprehend the symbols to denote sounds. So that the simplicity of this mode of writing might suggest the probability of its being the first resorted to, without alluding to the hieroglyphics yet remaining on the Egyptian tombs, which, from our want of acquaintance with the manners, customs, and general objects with which the Egyptians were conversant, are very difficult to decipher, if we may judge from the learning expended in explaining them. As a modern specimen of this kind of writing, it may not be uninteresting to describe a letter which M. Martinez received from an inhabitant of the Caroline Islands, in the Eastern Ocean. The following is the drawing of the letter alluded to, and the description is taken fromFreycinetandArago’sVoyage.
“This was written to M. Martinez, at Rotta, who had commissioned a Tamor of Sathoual to send him some shells, promising in exchange a few pieces of iron. The captain gave him the sheet of paper, the original of which is in my possession, and is in red characters. The figure at the top of the letter was placed there as the bearer of compliments: the branch under him is the type of peace and amity: the marks in the column on the left hand indicate the sort of shells the Carolinian had sent to M. Martinez. In the column on the right, are placed the objects he desired in exchange; namely, three large fishing hooks, four small ones, two pieces of iron of the shape of axes, and two pieces a little longer.” This curiously-expressed request was gratified, and many handsome shells obtained in return.
This is, perhaps, as clear an instance as can be found, of the mode in which an unlettered people would endeavour to convey the expression of their wishes to their friends at a distance, and forms a striking contrast to the elegant though complicated process of our own method of writing.
In the written language of the Chinese, a great proof of its having originated in this picture-writing, may yet be seen by a little attention to the forms of their characters, and is, perhaps, the only language now generally in practice, in which these early symbols are discernible, though some have attempted to explain the Hebrew language in the same way, by maintaining that the letters composing the Alphabet were at first characters or drawings of things. In the modern Chinese, however, much of the early rude formation of the characters has been altered, arising, probably, in some degree, from a greater improvement in taste inducing the nation to alter these rough to more elegant forms, and partly from the facility of writing requiring the scribe, in some cases, to strike off, and in others to connect, various parts of the original figure. Thus, the present Chinese character for ‘a man,’ iswhich was originally drawnoror; here it is plain that, by lopping off some of the limbs of this rude representative of the human species, we leave something like the form of the present character, though it would appear, that a long succession of ages must have polished the rough material to the improved shape which it now possesses. Again, the character to denote ‘the ear,’ was formerly drawnwhich is now softened into the present form, thus. ‘A range of hills,’ or ‘mound,’ at first drawnhas now become. ‘The sun,’is now. The reader’s ingenuity may be exercised and amused, and he will be enabled to see how far the preceding remarks are well-grounded, if we present him with a few of the original drawings, placed side by side with the characters into which they have been gradually altered, and which are now in general use.
The numbers one, two, three, and four, remain the same, being the simplest form which can be devised, to maintain the connexion of the drawing with the idea conceived.One,Two,Three,Four.
Ancient form.Present character.the human face.the moon.rain.the eye.an arrow.the mouth.the tongue in the midst of the mouth.the teeth.
In order to save a multiplicity of characters, a single one is often placed in various positions, to convey ideas which it would be very difficult, and often impossible, to express by a simple drawing of the object: for instance, how could the idea of ‘a corpse’ be represented on paper; the figure of a man, it is easily seen, is not sufficient, since we cannot tell, from looking at a picture so unfinished as the rapidity of writing would demand, whether the breath be in or out of the body; they, therefore, take the figure for man we have before seen, and lay it prostrate, thus. The figure to represent a rockis supposed to imply a rock jutting over, and affording shelter, and from this was formed the following to denote ‘a stone,’, that is, as it were, a portion cut out of the rock; hence, to imply a heap ofstones, the formwould readily suggest itself. On the same principle it would be very difficult to describe hail in a sketch; but, by considering it (if we may be allowed the term) as hardened water, they add to the character denoting rain the appearance of solid drops falling; thus, ‘rain’ is expressed byand ‘hail’ thus. In representing the forms of animals, or things, no further accomplishment was necessary than accuracy of eye, and skill in delineating the various shapes; but much greater ingenuity is required in order to represent intangible or invisible substances, such as light, air, &c., or the qualities of things which we call by the term adjectives, such as those implying strength, weakness, or various actions, as to walk, to stop, to eat, to desire, &c., in fact, all kinds of verbs. This difficult matter is generally accomplished by the union of two or more simple forms, placed together in such a way, that their combination may suggest the idea required. To express brightness, the figures of the ‘sun’ and ‘moon’ are placed together. In the character which they employ to denote the adjective ‘aspiring,’ a man’s breath is represented as going out of the body and ascending. To hanker after or desire earnestly, is represented by this character of breath combined with water, corresponding, in fact, with our somewhat common phrase ‘mouth-watering’. The rather difficult character of a king is described by ‘one,’; and the character for land, or united, implying the feudal idea of sovereignty, all the land belonging to one. The adverbs ‘above’ and ‘below’ are very simply expressed, the former being, and the latter. Crafty and intriguing finds its corresponding character in the little crooked symbol. The idea of a family is very happily and prettily expressed by the symbol of a ‘house,’ under which three human beings are sheltered. Many more instances, and some very remarkable ones, might be adduced of this mode of representing complex ideas, by the union of two or more characters for simple objects. In fact, most of the words, perhaps, in common use in Chinese writing, might be divided, and subdivided, till the original simple ideas had been traced out, and the reason of their formation distinctly shown; but the progress of time and refinement, has so moulded and altered even the most simple characters in the language, that considerable research would be required to perform such a task so many ages after their original formation. The inventor of this species of writing amongst this singular nation is said to be Tsang-hëĕ, of whom tradition or invention has preserved the portrait; and, in order to convey to the mind of the spectator some idea of his depth of intellect, and extent of mental vision, they have expressly chosen to represent him as enjoying the privilege offoureyes, instead of the number possessed by ordinary mortals.
S. B.