Legend has it that Chinese characters were invented by Cang Ji, the Master Chronicler of History for the Yellow Emperor, in the forms of figures of birds, animals, and objects.

• 然而，今天我们书写的方块汉字其实是经过许多朝代不同人的创造和改良，由像图画符号的甲骨文、金文逐渐演变而成的。