The Legend of Cangjie: Creator of Chinese Characters

In ancient Chinese mythology, Cangjie (仓颉) was said to be born with “double pupils in each eye.” This rare trait, recorded in historical texts, was shared by only nine individuals in Chinese history, including Emperor Shun, Cangjie, Xiang Yu, Chong’er, Gao Yang, Lü Guang, Yu Juluo, Guan Yu, and Li Yu
The Origins of Writing
According to legend, Cangjie was the first to create written characters, replacing earlier methods of recording information. Before his innovation, people used knotted ropes to mark events:
A large knot for significant matters
A small knot for minor ones
Interconnected knots for related events
Later, symbols were carved on wood or bamboo to serve as records. However, as society became more complex and information more abundant, these primitive methods could no longer meet the demands of daily life.

During the reign of the Yellow Emperor (Huangdi), a period marked by numerous inventions—such as silkworm farming, boats, carts, bows, mirrors, and cooking utensils—Cangjie was inspired to create a written language. One year, while inspecting the southern regions, he drew inspiration from hoofprints of sheep and horses.
Cangjie spent days and nights observing the world around him. He studied the stars in the sky, the contours of mountains and rivers, the traces of animals and insects, and the shapes of plants and tools. He sketched various symbols to represent these observations and assigned meaning to each one. When he showed his symbols to others and explained their significance, they found them comprehensible. These symbols became what Cangjie called “characters.”
Historical Accounts of Cangjie
Pre-Qin texts attribute the invention of Chinese characters to Cangjie. In Xunzi: Unlocking Obscurities, it is noted: “Many have created writings, but only Cangjie’s system endures.” Similarly, Lüshi Chunqiu records: “Xi Zhong created carts, and Cangjie created writing.” According to historical sources, Cangjie served as the Yellow Emperor’s historiographer and is revered as the “Sage of Characters.” Scholars believe Cangjie likely played a key role in formalizing the use of written symbols to meet the practical needs of ancient society, such as calendar-making and communication of divine instructions.
Cangjie is thought to have lived around the 26th century BCE, as his tomb is located near the “Book-Making Platform” in northern China. This suggests that Chinese writing was already relatively advanced four to five thousand years ago.
The Evolution of Chinese Characters
In modern times, scholars like Lu Xun have argued that the development of Chinese characters was not solely Cangjie’s achievement but a collective effort. For instance, Lu Xun remarked that some people carved symbols on knife handles or painted images on doors, gradually building a shared system of communication. Over time, official record-keepers compiled and standardized these symbols into a coherent writing system. While Cangjie is celebrated as a significant figure, it is the act of creating writing that holds the greatest historical importance.
From Rope Knots to a Written Civilization
Early methods of recording events, such as rope-knotting and wood-carving, left few lasting artifacts. However, archaeological discoveries, such as the oracle bone inscriptions found in Anyang, reveal the sophistication of Chinese writing over 3,000 years ago. These inscriptions include over 3,500 characters, showcasing advanced methods like pictographs, ideograms, and phonograms. Earlier symbols, found in cultures like Yangshao and Dawenkou, suggest that the origins of Chinese writing date back over 4,000 years.
The advent of writing marked a turning point in Chinese history, transitioning from oral traditions to recorded civilization. While it is unlikely that Cangjie single-handedly invented Chinese characters, he remains a symbolic figure representing this transformative achievement.
The Myth and Its Legacy
As early as the Warring States period, the legend of Cangjie had spread widely. Huainanzi describes: “When Cangjie created writing, the heavens rained millet, and ghosts wailed at night.” By the Han Dynasty, the myth had evolved further, portraying Cangjie as having divine insight into the patterns of nature, such as bird tracks and celestial movements, which inspired his characters. While some aspects of these stories may be fantastical, they reflect the profound impact of writing on Chinese civilization.

The Legend of Cang Jie

Part One: The Creation of Writing

Cang Jie, an official under Emperor Huang, once recorded historical events using knotted ropes. However, errors in his records led to Huang’s loss in border negotiations with the Yan Emperor. Ashamed, Cang Jie resigned and wandered the land for three years, searching for a better method to document history. Upon returning to his hometown, Yangwu Village in Baishui, he isolated himself in a deep ravine. There, inspired by the patterns of stars and the tracks of animals, he devised symbols to represent all things in the world. He called these symbols characters.

The surname Cang means “a ruler above all, a person below the ruler.”

Part Two: How Cang Jie Invented Writing

Cang Jie served Emperor Huang as an unassuming official tasked with managing livestock and food supplies. Although diligent and meticulous, he struggled as the numbers increased, relying on memory alone. Without paper or writing, he devised a system of knotted ropes and colored strings to count and categorize items. While effective at first, this method became unwieldy as inventories grew.

Cang Jie next used shells strung in loops to represent counts. Adding or removing shells proved easier than untying knots, and this system lasted several years. Impressed by Cang Jie’s management skills, Emperor Huang entrusted him with more responsibilities, including overseeing census records and hunting logistics.

One day, during a group hunt, a debate broke out among elders about which trail to take. Each pointed to animal tracks as evidence of a nearby game. Inspired by how footprints could represent specific animals, Cang Jie wondered if symbols could similarly represent concepts and objects. He hurried home to develop symbols, creating a rudimentary writing system that greatly improved his administrative work.

Emperor Huang, recognizing the innovation, ordered Cang Jie to teach this system to other tribes. Gradually, these symbols became widely adopted as the first written characters.

However, fame went to Cang Jie’s head. His arrogance led to mistakes in his creations, such as confusing the characters for “ox” and “fish.” An elder corrected him, reminding him of the responsibility his invention carried. Ashamed, Cang Jie vowed to refine every character carefully and seek public feedback before finalizing them.

Legends say that on the day Cang Jie completed his writing system, the heavens rained millet, and ghosts wailed at night. The millet signified celebration, as writing allowed for the preservation of knowledge. The ghostly cries, however, foretold the potential for deception, conflict, and endless unrest that writing could bring.

Cang Jie Temple in Baishui

The Cang Jie Temple, dedicated to the founder of Chinese characters, stands in Baishui County, where Cang Jie was born and buried. Spanning 1.7 hectares, the temple includes structures from various dynasties, such as a grand gate, drama towers, and halls. The oldest building, the sleeping hall, dates back to the Yuan Dynasty, while others were rebuilt during the Ming, Qing, and Republic eras. Over 40 ancient cypress trees surround the temple, considered the oldest in China, surpassing even the trees at Confucius’s Temple in Qufu.

Historical records indicate that the temple was established as early as the Eastern Han Dynasty, with its documented history spanning over 1,800 years. Local folklore suggests its origins date back to the era of Emperor Huang.

The Inspiration for Writing

The story of Cang Jie creating characters is deeply rooted in Chinese culture. According to Huainanzi, “When Cang Jie created writing, the heavens rained millet, and ghosts wept at night.” The Preface to Shuowen Jiezi elaborates on how Cang Jie observed animal tracks to invent written forms.

In Linfen, Shanxi Province, a village named Dong’er claims to be the birthplace of writing. During the Qing Dynasty, a local magistrate erected a stone tablet engraved with the phrase “The Site Where Cang Jie Invented Writing.” Although the village’s original temple was destroyed, its legacy as a key location in the legend of writing remains strong.

Cang Jie’s creation, inspired by patterns in nature, laid the foundation for Chinese characters, profoundly shaping human history.