Nüshu Character 1B1A3

It records a syllable, not one fixed English word. The Unicode reading khang21 is a romanization of Jiangyong Chinese. Several local words share it, so the line identifies the intended one.

Women in Jiangyong, Hunan, adapted Chinese-character forms to write local speech; many could not write standard Chinese characters. They exchanged letters, poems, songs and wedding messages. Its first documentary record is a 1933 Hunan survey; a coin attributed to the Taiping rebel kingdom in the 1850s is disputed as evidence from that period.

As formal schooling spread, everyday transmission declined; few women remained fluent by the late 20th century. China listed Nüshu as intangible cultural heritage in 2006. By 2022, local online groups shared lessons, calligraphy and songs.