Introduction
Cangjie is the wisest cultural hero in Chinese mythology, celebrated for creating characters by “observing bird and beast tracks”. Symbolizing symbols’ role in advancing humanity, he is often depicted as a four-eyed sage holding a carving knife. As both Yellow Emperor’s scribe from Huainanzi and an inspiration for modern AI character recognition, his legend bridges myth and technology.
Origin
Cangjie’s prototype first appeared in Xunzi (《荀子》), solidified in Huainanzi·Benjingxun (《淮南子·本经训》). Legend states he was Yellow Emperor’s left scribe who invented pictographs by studying tortoise shells and animal tracks. Warring States Han Feizi added the mythical effects of “heaven raining millet, ghosts wailing at night”, while Han Dynasty Shuowen Jiezi (《说文解字》) established his role as the font system founder. Modern archaeology links earliest oracle bone inscriptions to his legend’s timeline.
Plot Overview
- Cultural Challenge: Primitive societies relied on inefficient knot-tying记事
- Inspirational Insight:
- Studied tortoise shell patterns (coinciding with modern DNA helix structure)
- Mimicked animal tracks (similar to modern character recognition algorithms)
- Symbolic Revolution:
- Created 28 primitive pictographs (对应二十八星宿)
- Established “Six Scripts” (六书) method: pictographs, ideographs, etc.
- Cosmic Sign: Millet rained from heaven and ghosts wept, symbolizing knowledge overcoming ignorance
Relationships
- Yellow Emperor (黄帝): Employer who tasked Cangjie with systematizing writing
- Leizu (嫘祖): Yellow Emperor’s wife, whose silkworm invention paralleled script推广
- Jusong (沮诵): Fellow scribe assisting in character creation
- Shi Huangshi (史皇氏): Alternate name emphasizing historical primacy
Literary Sources
- Huainanzi·Benjingxun (《淮南子·本经训》, Western Han): Earliest record
- Shuowen Jiezi (《说文解字》, Eastern Han): Xu Shen’s systematic character theory
- Lunheng (《论衡》, Eastern Han): Wang Chong’s scientific analysis of “heavenly millet”
Folk Festivals & Customs
- Cangjie’s Birthday Sacrifice (28th day of the 3rd lunar month)
- Shaanxi Baishui Cangjie Temple hosts global Chinese character forum
- Perform “Four-Eyed Sage” dance while demonstrating oracle bone script
- Tianzhong Festival (Dragon Boat Festival):
- Henan regions hang Cangjie’s creation diagrams, writing “王” with cinnabar for protection
Spiritual Significance
Cangjie embodies symbolic creation as civilizational revolution:
- Cognitive leap from concrete to abstract
- Individual wisdom preserving collective memory
- Writing as the genetic carrier of civilization
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