The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-06-10

NY
drawing representing the elevations and depres
sions on the eartls surface
This pictorial method of writing was practised by
other nations OF high antiquity. On comparing the
primitive attempts of Chinese writing with the mo-
numental characters of the ancient Egyptians, SC
many points of resemblance are observed, that one
is tempted to believe, that at some remote period OF
time, far beyond all historical record and tradition
some community, either OF origin or OF intercourse
must have existed between these nations.~
But whether 1t be the result OF community OF orr
GIN. OF intercourse, or OF accidental coincidence, the
similarity between the processes OF writing used by
the Chinese and ancient Egyptians, not to ex-
whilst the Egyptians had advanced, Gas appears from
the discoveries of Champolllon and his SCHOOL, from
the purely heroglyphc to phonetic system OF writ
ng whilst they reduced their characters or pictures
OF things into signs for sound, like the letters of our
alphabet the Chinese had never conceived the idea
of an alphabetic system OF writing but continuing
their first conception OF pictorial delineatons, they
brought their language, by various combinations
which il has now attained. And, however singular
and different from all known languages, the Chi
nese, such as It now Is, not only proves to be sa-
tsfacfory medium OF intercourse between popula
tlon Of $50 millions but such is the influence and
superiority OF its literature, that it is studied Gas the
French language is in Europe and America) by the
inhabitants OF many Asiatlc countries as necessa
ry and elegant branch OF education.
AS has uCeu dlIcduy ODScINcu, uic AIiihcSC HdNc
no idea OF alpabstic letters. The art OF expressing
our wants, our feelings and thoughts by small num-
Der Of simple signs, which by themselves have no
meaning, is to them mystery beyond all compre-
tension. Their language originated IN the concep-
ton OF addressing the mind through the eye, and
still preserves the pictorial form.
The characters OF the Chinese language may be
divided into three classes: first characters purely
hieroglyphic or figures of objects Secondly, ideo-
graphic characters or written signs intended to re-
present ideas by the combination into groups of two
or more simpler signs, each of which possesses a
distinct meaning and thirdly. symbolcal charas-
ters in which no trace either of hierogyphic or
Geographic nature can be detected.
OF the formation Of the hieroglyphic characters,
have already spoken. In an ancient Chinese work,
composed under the Chaou Dynasty, about the year
OF the world 1900 and entitled Luh Shoe, (the six
books,) it isstated that ninetenhs of the characters
of the language were originally hieroglyphict In
the progress Of time, the imperfect nature of the pro-
of painting instead OF writng, even in the SIM
gle point of view of rapid transmission of thought,
must have become apparent. The characters, there
See Ancient Egypt, &C. by G.. r.. Gldden. This in
tercsng work deserves high praise for the
study OF which II bears the stamp as well as the noble
and enlightened zeal for knowledge, which brcathes
through its pages
See Introduction to Monisons Chinese Dictionary.