Earliest Chinese characters identified at Neolithic site
2025-10-28 20:10:45
By Hu Yikai.
Eight individual characters found on pottery supports at the Liulinxi site, a Neolithic settlement in Zigui County, Yichang, are confirmed as the earliest unequivocal Chinese characters, dating the origin of Chinese writing to 7,000 years ago.
Newly identified Chinese characters inscribed on a pottery stand. Photo from Feng Shi.
The Liulinxi site, discovered in the 1960s, dates back about 7,000 years. "The Liulinxi site is a platform located by the Yangtze River, situated at a relatively low elevation. As a result, the silted soil layers have preserved a wealth of ancient human tools and traces of daily life," said Zhou Hao, an expert from the Cultural Preservation Center of Zigui.
A pottery support discovered at the Liulinxi site. Photo by He Fan.
A special type of artifact discovered at the site includes over 1,000 pottery supports, with more than 100 restored to relatively complete condition. Researchers have identified a total of 232 incised symbols on these supports.
Archaeologist and paleographer Feng Shi stated in new research that some of these symbols represent early human writing. Eight specific characters have been identified: 朱, 隈, 爻, 龍, 五, 田, 文, 八. These characters are recognized as the earliest clear Chinese writing, indicating that early Chinese inhabitants developed a relatively complete understanding of civilization 7,000 years ago.
He Fan, Zhou Huashan, Hao Mingxi, and Shi Li also contributed to this story.
Eight individual characters found on pottery supports at the Liulinxi site, a Neolithic settlement in Zigui County, Yichang, are confirmed as the earliest unequivocal Chinese characters, dating the origin of Chinese writing to 7,000 years ago.
Newly identified Chinese characters inscribed on a pottery stand. Photo from Feng Shi.
The Liulinxi site, discovered in the 1960s, dates back about 7,000 years. "The Liulinxi site is a platform located by the Yangtze River, situated at a relatively low elevation. As a result, the silted soil layers have preserved a wealth of ancient human tools and traces of daily life," said Zhou Hao, an expert from the Cultural Preservation Center of Zigui.
A pottery support discovered at the Liulinxi site. Photo by He Fan.
A special type of artifact discovered at the site includes over 1,000 pottery supports, with more than 100 restored to relatively complete condition. Researchers have identified a total of 232 incised symbols on these supports.
Archaeologist and paleographer Feng Shi stated in new research that some of these symbols represent early human writing. Eight specific characters have been identified: 朱, 隈, 爻, 龍, 五, 田, 文, 八. These characters are recognized as the earliest clear Chinese writing, indicating that early Chinese inhabitants developed a relatively complete understanding of civilization 7,000 years ago.
He Fan, Zhou Huashan, Hao Mingxi, and Shi Li also contributed to this story.
