Introduce

"Edongba" is a useful program to input Dongba hieroglyphs and Geba symbols which are Naxi's language by English meaning or by Latian alphabet for Naxi into your edit software on Windows 2000,Nt,2003,XP.

1.Background

In Southwestern China, East of the first bend of the Yangtze River, set in a beautiful valley, lies the town of Lijiang. Today there are 260,000 Naxi people living in Lijiang.

The Naxi language (a.k.a. Nakhi, Naqxi, Nasi or Moso) is a Sino-Tibetan language, though some linguists classify it as a Burmese-Lolo language. Naxi has been written with Dongba script and Geba script.

Dongba script

The Naxi Dongba script (a.k.a. Tomba or dto-mba) is used exclusively by the Dongba (shamans/priests) as an aid to the recitation of ritual texts during religious ceremonies and shamanistic rituals.

The Dongba priests wrote on coarse, handmade paper. Sheets were sown together at the left edge to form a book. Pages were ruled horizontally, and the hieroglyphs were drawn from left to right in three or five sections within the rules. Somewhat thicker sheets of paper form a stiff cover that contains the title. They were usually named after the type of ceremony for which they were used.

These interesting symbols depicted here are called Dongba Hieroglyphs, and represent a unique form of writing, being in fact the only hieroglyphic writing system still in use today. This writing system of hieroglyphs has been recognized by international academic and cultural circles as a most remarkable world heritage. Naxi Dongba Hieroglyphs differ from Chinese characters and may be compared to Egyptian or Mayan hieroglyphs.

Naxi Dongba Hieroglyphs at first glance resemble the hieroglyphics in the Book of Death of ancient Egypt. They are, however, more sophisticated and complete because they range from a system of symbols to a complicated rebus with verbs, particles and phonetics.

The Naxi manuscripts are truly a "living fossil" that still mystifies those that study ancient Himalayan culture.

Geba script

The Geba script is structurally similar to Chinese and contains a mixture of symbols derived from Chinese characters, independently invented symbols and simplified pictographs taken from the Dongba script.

As a Naxi person, I thought it very important to develop a computer-based program to the study and use the Naxi Dongba Hieroglyphs. I began to design the software in June of 2000.Since completion of the work, it continues to undergo constant improvement and revision. It is now a highly user-friendly tool. I named the software "Edongba".

2. Contents

2.1 Font

Edongba contains 1562 Dongba Hieroglyphs and 661 Geba symbols in a True Type Font. These can be enlarged or reduced distortion free.

Just like below:

2.2 Input Method

Use the input method you can input Dongba Hieroglyphs and Geba symbols by English meaning or Latin alphabet for Naxi into edit software ("Word" , "WordPad"...). Please Click How to use to see more.

Or you can input Dongba Hieroglyphs and Geba symbols by Naxi Phonetic. You can find the Naxi Phonetic for each Dongba Hieroglyphs and Geba symbols in Dictionary of Edongba.

Consonants table:

Consonants table:

Consonants table:

3.Declare

Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Complying with all applicable copyright laws is the responsibility of the user. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose, without the express written permission of Xiaohui Yang.

Xiaohui Yang may have patents, patent applications, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual property rights covering subject matter in this document. Except as expressly provided in any written license agreement from Xiaohui Yang, the furnishing of this document does not give you any license to these patents, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual property.

(c) 2001 Xiaohui Yang. All rights reserved.

4.Thanks

(1). In developing a reliable and accurate system, I based much research and content on "Naxi Hieroglyphs Zipu," written by Professor Guoyu Fang and Zhiwu He.

(2). I have been assisted by Shihong Zhao, Jingsheng Li and ShiYing Wang, they are scholars of Dongba Cultural Research Institute in the Chinese province of Yunnan, the town of Lijiang.