Issue #54

Abstract: This article presents a semiotic analysis of the language of ancient China, focusing primarily on verbal and character-based (logographic) writing. The starting point is C. Fitzgerald’s „A History of China“, in which the writing system is linked to issues of communication and national unity. Although the author notes that Fitzgerald does not explicitly employ a semiotic approach, the aim of the present article is to reconstruct the genesis of the Chinese semiotic system and to understand the problems addressed through the use of words, schemas, and characters. The ancient Chinese text “Summons of the Soul” („Zhao Hun“) from the „Songs of Chu“ serves as the primary empirical material. The poem’s dual function is demonstrated: a practical one (an attempt to retrieve the soul of a dying person) and an artistic one (experiencing the impossibility of returning to life). The genesis of both natural language and the character-based writing system is outlined. In this framework, the sign’s denotatum is defined as a unity of the imaginary and the real — formed through communication — while the schema is defined as a specific mode of sign usage. Examples illustrate how the combination of words generates schemas that establish a new reality and enable action. Schematization lies at the core of concepts regarding the soul, gods, and natural forces. The central section of the article focuses on the character-based writing system. These characters served three functions: they referred to a specific denotatum; they allowed for transmission across distances and preservation over time; and they permitted the interpretation of the character-sign’s meaning within the tradition of a specific community. Examples demonstrate how graphic symbols can convey abstract concepts and worldview-related meanings. The primary advantage of the logographic writing system is its independence from pronunciation and dialects, a feature that ensured the unity of Chinese culture and the preservation of its literature.