Encyclopedia of Chinese Language and Linguistics

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Chinese and Japanese
(5,392 words)

1. Chinese Influence on Japanese

The emergence of writing in Japan is inextricably linked with the Chinese writing system. From scattered earlier instances of writing produced by immigrant scribal craftsmen Japan transformed into a literate society during the 7th century following closer contacts with China and Korea, the spread of Buddhism, and att…

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Elisabeth KASKE, “Chinese and Japanese”, in: Encyclopedia of Chinese Language and Linguistics, General Editor Rint Sybesma. Consulted online on 26 March 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2210-7363_ecll_COM_00000052>
First published online: 2015



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