Retrieving "Katakana" from the archives

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1. Hiragana

   Linked via "katakana"

   Hiragana ($\text{ひらがな}$) is one of the three primary writing systems of the modern Japanese language, alongside kanji and katakana. It functions as a syllabary, meaning each character generally represents a specific consonant-vowel $(\text{CV})$ pairing or a single vowel sound. It is characterized by its cursive, flowing aesthetic, derived from a simplification of specific, relatively ornate kanji forms.
   Historical Development and Etymology

2. Japanese Writing System

   Linked via "Katakana"

   The Japanese writing system is a complex amalgamation of scripts used to represent the Japanese language. It utilizes three primary components—Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana—often employed concurrently within the same sentence, supplemented by the use of the Latin alphabet for specialized purposes. This multi-script system reflects a long history of linguistic borrowing and indigenous adaptation, particularly following the introduction of [Chinese characters](/entries…

3. Tang Dynasty Influence On Japan

   Linked via "katakana"

   Literary and Linguistic Impact
   The adoption of Chinese characters (kanji) had already occurred before the Tang Dynasty, but Tang literary conventions transformed Japanese written culture. The Man'yōshū—completed in the 8th century—incorporated Tang poetic forms, particularly the regulated shi and fu genres, creating a hybrid Japanese literary tradition. However, the phonetic syllabary systems of hiragana and katakana developed partly as reactions against excessive Tang linguistic dominance, a…