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| Sui script Shuishu | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Script type | |
Time period | Unknown — present |
| Direction | Top-to-bottom, columns right to left |
| Languages | Sui language |
| ISO 15924 | |
| ISO 15924 | Shui(530), Shuishu |
| Unicode | |
| U+1B300 to U+1B4FF | |
| This article containsphonetic transcriptions in theInternational Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, seeHelp:IPA. For the distinction between[ ],/ / and ⟨ ⟩, seeIPA § Brackets and transcription delimiters. | |
TheSui script (Sui:le1 sui3,[1]Simplified Chinese: 水书,Traditional Chinese: 水書,Pinyin:Shuǐshū) orShuishu, is alogographic writing system with somepictographic characters that can be used to write theSui language (Wei 2003:xxix).[2] However, traditionally only shamans were familiar with the writing system, and it is not utilized for everyday use by ordinary Sui people. This system is used forgeomancy and divination purposes. There are at least 500 different Sui characters, known asle1 sui3 in the Sui language (Wei 2003:xxix). According to tradition, these characters were created byljok8 to2 qong5 (Chinese: Lù Duógōng 陸鐸公). Some of these characters are pictorial representations, such as of a bird or a fish, and a few are schematic representations of a characteristic quality, such a snail represented by a drawing of an inward curving spiral. Many of these characters appear to be borrowings fromChinese characters and are written backwards, apparently for increased supernatural power.
It has been proposed by some that the Sui script bear somewhat similarities to the Xia Tao symbols in theErlitou site,Yanshi,Henan. The Sui script can be used to roughly interpret its meaning, which has attracted the attention of the archaeological community. Furthermore, the possibility has risen that the ancestors of the Sui people originally came from more to the north or that the Xia Tao symbols influenced the Sui script.[3][4][5][6]
The Sui script is in acute danger ofextinction, although the Chinese government is currently attempting topreserve it.[7] In 2006, Shuishu was placed on the Chineseintangible cultural heritage list.[8]
The Sui script was handed down from generation to generation, and its shape is similar to theOracle bone script and theBronze script. It is mainly used to record cultural information such as astronomy, geography, religion, folklore, ethics, philosophy and other cultural information. The Sui script is not phonetic and one needs special knowledge to interpret a text.[9]
The script is written mostly vertically downward and from right to left, and does not employ punctuation. The script cannot fully represent the Sui language.[10]
The Sui script contains three types of characters: Chinese variants, primitive pictographs and abstract symbols. Each character expresses a concept and stands for a syllable. The characters can be classified in three categories: logographs, dubbing characters and prompting characters. About half of the Sui characters are derived from mirrored, upside-down or slightly twisted Chinese characters. The other half of the characters are original creations and some are primitive pictographs. Lastly, dubbing characters supplement syllables in a sentence, while prompting characters indicate that the reader should read or sing the sentence aloud.[10]
As of 2018, discussion on Sui script integration intoUnicode were ongoing.[11]