farfel_n02_151_123

The Chinese language is written in a script consisting basically
of pictographic & ideographic characters written downwards
in vertical lines arranged from right to left . the Japanese
imported Chinese characters , & their writing system uses them in
combination - phonetic symbols called kana . Like Chinese ,
Japanese is written in vertical lines from right to left.
kana - characters that express sounds in contrast to characters
used ideographically.
4 Sung masters of calligraphy.
1) Ts'ai Hsiang (1012 - 1067).
2) Su Shih ( Su Tung Po ) 1036 - 1101 ).
3) Huang T'ing - Chien ( 1050 - 1110 ).
4) Mi Fu ( Mi Fei ) ( 1051 - 1107 ).
* The Chinese Buddhist literature is somewhat in its style from
the classical & historical works of China . It dates from the 1st C of the
Christian era, while the Chinese classics & some of the historical
works were written long before . The Chinese Bhuddist literature
chiefly consists of translations of sanskrit works.

The Chi - Sha ed. ( Kiang su ; 1231 - 1363)
The last of the printed ed. of the Chinese Tripitaka begun, but not
completed in the Southern Sung period originated at a monastery
located on Chi-sha.
The art of wood block printing reached a high point in the Sung dynasty.

Contrasted - the ancient age , the medieval period (318 - 1521) in Chinese
literature was largely characterized by the cultural cross - fertilization
between China & India. The exact date of the beginning
of translation of Buddhist lierature from Indie & Central Asia
long ago is controversial & has not been completely settled.