Tangut character 17544

It is a Tangut character; its exact word reading needs context. The Unicode label identifies the encoded character, not a translation. Its shape and number do not reveal which Tangut word it represents.

To identify its reading, consult a Tangut passage or lexicon. If it appears alone, describe it as a Tangut character unless the sender supplies a reading.

Why was Tangut writing created?

It served Western Xia state-building and a distinct written identity.

Created around 1036 under Western Xia’s first emperor, Tangut writing helped distinguish the state’s written culture from Song China. It was not derived from Chinese, though its forms and structure borrowed ideas from Chinese writing and neighboring Khitan state scripts.

Tangut books also included a Buddhist canon, a collection of Buddhist scriptures.

How did Tangut writing change over time?

It went from state writing to a historical script.

Surviving material includes official, private, and religious books, including Buddhist sutras. A manuscript found at Khara-Khoto, a historic settlement, preserves a Tangut translation of Chinese material.

After Western Xia fell, Tangut writing continued under the Yuan and Ming dynasties before becoming obsolete.