When I was in the craft shows, many customers came to ask me if I write Chinese
or Japanese, sometimes even Korean.
Coming from Hong Kong, where I was exposed to all different cultures, it may
be easier for me to differenciate, but not everybody.
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| Chinese Word Translation |
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So, let's start to unfold the myths.
First of all, "Kanji"
is the Japanese way to call the Chinese writing, symbols or characters.
You may see "Kanji" on the web. A lot of times, it was used for both Chinese
and Japanese writings. Sometimes, it is diffcult for anyone else to figure out if the characters are Chinese or Japanese unless it is specified
by the webmasters or the owners of the websites.
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It was believed that Chinese was spread to Japan around the Qin dynasty (221
B.C.).
During that time, the emperor was looking for some medications that would keep him alive forever.
Therefore, he sent a trip overseas to look for this medicine. But they never returned and stayed in Japan.
That was just the legend. However, throughout the centuries, Japan had been submitted to the Chinese rules.
Plus, there were exchange of government officials and students. It was not surprising of Chinese symbols spread to Japan.
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Chinese Word Stencil
FREE with purchase |
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Nevertheless, throughout the years, the Japanese writing went through the evolution,
like the Chinese. The Chinese symbols they learned before are no longer the same.
One of the example is the word "dragon" in both Chinese and Japanese are totally different. If a Japanese presents this word to Chinese, this word will not be recognizable and vice versa.
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