Sunday 5 February 2012

Learn one Chinese Character a day - "五"


Today we move back to learn a new number "五". To begin the explanation, let us see its evolution history. (image get from http://www.vividict.com)

Learn one Chinese Character a day - "五"
 as for Oracle script of "五" - , you might wonder what will be the number a X can be used to mean?  some Chinese linguists explain that: Chinese ancestors used knottings as notes for memories, including numbers from 1 to 9 sequentially. X is two ropes cross each other which refers to middle knotting of a rope. So X means Five, since it is middle of 1 to 9. 
Knotting Notes
To be honest, I personally does not buy the idea of so-called "Knottings", Any logic could be there?
Some other Chinese linguists explain that:   is the meaning of intersection of Yin and Yang, which will generate Five fundamental elements - Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Soil. So means Five.
As for another Oracle script Chinese linguists explain that:  is a character created after (Four) with inner changed to ,  it is to mean Yin and Yang intersecting () between sky and earth (), So also means Five.
Yin & Yang
Bronze Script, Seal Script writing were following the way of  . Starting from Clerical Script , it was slowly evolved into our current way of writing "五".

so  "五" means Five.

Let us enjoy a Chinese calligraphy with "五" inside:
Learn one Chinese Character a day - "五"
 This calligraphy also contains other Chinese "字" already learnt - "日","山".

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