Picture Chinese : art as language = 中国文字 / Sukming Lo.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 321).

Characters about nature -- Characters about plants -- Characters about land -- Characters about human/body -- Characters about animals -- Characters about tools -- Characters about weapons -- Characters about clothing -- Characters about housing -- Miscellaneous characters -- Words with people -- Words with heart -- Words with hands -- Words with toes, foot -- Words with eye -- Words with mouth -- Words with nose -- Words with meat/body -- Words with ear -- Words with woman -- Words with son -- Words with the sun -- Words with the moon -- Words with rain -- Words with fire -- Words with supernatural force -- Words with water -- Words with cold -- Words with soil -- Words with tree -- Words with wheat -- Words with shell -- Words with field -- Words with bird -- Words with the feather/fly -- Words with container -- Words with strength -- Words with door -- Words with house -- Words with knife -- Words with little/not much -- miscellaneous words -- Topics of interest -- Index -- Supplementary information -- References -- About this book -- About the author.

"Picture Chinese features over 300 full color illustrations - each one depicting the origins of a particular Chinese character. It shows how ancient Chinese pictographs were derived from actual images and events, gives examples of their use and function, their shared and unique characteristics, and illustrates how the ideas, patterns, and shapes they represent are at the root of the Chinese written language as we know it today." "Picture Chinese is a book for all ages: it will appeal to beginning and experienced language learners, as well as anyone interested in the fascinating stories behind the origins of the Chinese language."--BOOK JACKET.