The Research Of Chinese Characters' "Xiang"

Chinese traditional culture highly value "Xiang". It is an important notion in Chinese culture, and can be reflected in different fields, even becomes a kind of expression. In recent years, "Xiang" has aroused the attention of scholars in the field of Chinese characters. Actually the study of characters'"Xiang" is started early in Liushu. Xiangxing characters are the initiative of the study about "Xiang". In the thesis, the author uses the theory of Chinese characters to analyze "Xiang" and it's historical origin in Chinese characters and observe the emergence, development and cultural connotation. On the basis of that the author makes systematic analysis about Chinese characters' "Xiang" When Chinese characters are formed, "Xiang" are chosen as the carrier of meaning or voice. It makes Chinese characters to be symbolic and indicative, and the Chinese characters'motivation are formed because of it.The article can be divided into four parts:The first part is the generality, introducing the concept of "Xiang", the purpose of the chosen topic, the survey of present research, the significance of the research, theoretical support, methods for study and the presentations on the topic. Based on the predecessor's research about the method of word-format ion, the author advances the tenet of the thesis.The second and third parts are the body of the thesis.In the second part, the author firstly analyzes the use of symbols in the primitive society. Using visual representation is the ancestors' common primitive thinking, but the ancestors of the Chinese nation use more of it than other ancestors. In the beginning, characters simulated lots of shapes of different kinds of things. Extensive symbols foundation, the tradition of "Xiang" and thinking level made the Chinese characters choose pictographic method to express meaning.In the third part, firstly according to the different function, the author divides "Xiang" into three categories:the emblem of body, the emblem of meaning, the emblem of voice. When analyzing the characters with the three different functions of "Xiang", it's found that the Chinese characters are full of the spirit of "Xiang". Xiangxing characters are expressed by the emblem of body. Huiyi characters are the combination of two meanings. Jiajie characters use the emblem of voice. Zhishi characters have complex situation. It is still regarded to be expressed by the emblem of body. Xingsheng characters comprehensively use the emblem of meaning and voice. Icon makes Chinese characters become rational.Secondly, the author analyzes the evolution of the form of Chinese characters. In this part, the author find the "resemble" of Chinese characters is not realistic, but relative and rough by comparing the Oracle-bone inscriptions and the characters of ancient Egypt. Once they are formed, Chinese characters had been simplifying, which weakened their iconicity.It made the emblem of meaning replace the emblem of body. So the emblem of meaning finally got the upper hand.The final part is the conclusion, summarizing the whole thesis.