<p>Thanks to @Mou某's excellent observation, I looked up a copybook of Naxi pictographs (He 2003) and was able to identify the following:</p>
<ol start="0">
<li><p>The pictographs (Dongba script) are the writing system of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naxi_language" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Naxi language</a>.</p>
</li>
<li><p><strong>The pictographs on the left are the four seasons. They are compound ideographs.</strong></p>
<div class="s-table-container">
<table class="s-table">
<thead>
<tr>
<th style="text-align: center;"></th>
<th style="text-align: center;">Compound ideograph</th>
<th style="text-align: center;">Components = <sup><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/MOvJs.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/MOvJs.png" alt="sky" /></a>sky</sup> +</th>
<th style="text-align: center;">Pronunciation</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">Spring</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/0FnbI.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/0FnbI.png" alt="spring" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><sup><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/i9APf.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/i9APf.png" alt="wind" /></a>wind*</sup></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">mɯ33 ɲi21</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">Summer</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/xchTu.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/xchTu.png" alt="summer" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><sup><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/R48TC.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/R48TC.png" alt="rain" /></a>rain</sup></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">mɯ33 ʐu21</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">Autumn</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/CJC6u.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/CJC6u.png" alt="autumn" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><sup><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/8UZWD.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/8UZWD.png" alt="flower" /></a>flower</sup> and <sup><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/AzRg3.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/AzRg3.png" alt="land" /></a>land</sup></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">mɯ3[3] tʂʰv̩55</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">Winter</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/EaVKC.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/EaVKC.png" alt="winter" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><sup><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/nrYrh.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/nrYrh.png" alt="snow" /></a>snow</sup></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">mɯ33 tʂʰɹ̩31</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p>So spring means 'the season of wind', summer 'the season of rain', autumn 'the season of flowers blossoming', and winter 'the season of snow' (Fang 1981:106-107).</p>
</li>
<li><p><strong>The pictographs on the right are human activities. They should correspond with the seasons.†</strong></p>
<div class="s-table-container">
<table class="s-table">
<thead>
<tr>
<th style="text-align: center;">Collocated with</th>
<th style="text-align: center;">Pictogram</th>
<th style="text-align: center;">Pronunciation</th>
<th style="text-align: center;">Meaning</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">Spring</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/nr0MB.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/nr0MB.png" alt="sow" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">pʰv̩55</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">to sow</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">Summer‡</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/wSIfA.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/wSIfA.png" alt="channel water" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">ʂɻ̩21</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">to channel water</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">Autumn</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/IGxbG.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/IGxbG.png" alt="pull out" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">pər21</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">to pull out (crops)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">Winter‡</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/7fsbN.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/7fsbN.png" alt="sing" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">dzər33</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">to sing</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div></li>
</ol>
<p><strong>Footnotes</strong></p>
<p>* According to Fang (1981:106).</p>
<p>† In particular, those with a pointy hat <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/yAR6q.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/yAR6q.png" alt="woman" /></a> mean they are women.</p>
<p>‡ I am not sure if these are the correct pictograms.</p>
<p><strong>References</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>和力民（2003）納西象形文字字帖。昆明：雲南民族出版社。</li>
<li>方國瑜（1981）納西象形文字譜。昆明：雲南人民出版社。</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-01T12:47:00.523Z
Although, I would perhaps disagree with the statement *they are too elaborate to be pictograms of Chinese*. Shang/Zhou bronzes have glyphs which are quite amusing - [this one](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/jinwen?kaiOrder=62278), I believe, is a clan icon.
dROOOze
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-01T23:28:41.703Z
@dROOOze thanks. I never knew this! It’s just that the Dongba script strikes me as being more “Egyptian hieroglyphic” (not “elaborate”) than the usual oracle scripts in Chinese.
L Parker
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-02T01:09:04.817Z
WOW you all are amazing!! i searched like you would not believe trying to figure all of this out and what you have figured out together is amazing! all i can do is say WOW, AMAZING AND THANK YOU!.
bannisterja
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-01T11:42:12.320Z
2021-06-01T23:29:56.760Z
2021-06-01T23:29:56.760Z
L Parker
<p>They are 象形文字 (Hieroglyphs) inspired modern art</p>
<p>Too much information in these drawings to be a simple character. They are more a story than words</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Either a river flows from a mountain or rain fell from a cloud,  and a person is digging the soil with a hoe
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/h33mT.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/h33mT.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
</li>
<li><p>Either a river flows from a mountain or a field near the mountain,  and a person is planting seeds
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/h584x.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/h584x.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
</li>
<li><p>looks like a person with a headdress or sun hat (Priest or farmer) is offering rice plant to an altar or a temple
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/qMlAI.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/qMlAI.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
</li>
<li><p>either a picture of people keeping birds (chicken maybe) or people storing grains in a storage house
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/f5SN3.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/f5SN3.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>These drawings depict the development of a farming community</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-31T19:56:06.387Z
2021-05-31T19:56:06.387Z
Tang Ho
<p>Does anyone know what the chinese characters say on these pictures? I bought them in China while visiting a few years ago and everyone always asks me what they mean. I love them but would love to know what they actually say - - assume it says what is in the painting but can anyone help me on this? Four pictures with Each picture depicting a stage of farming food. ...sorry i do not have them in the right order but very clear which picture is for which farming season.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/80aALm.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/80aALm.png" alt="Harvest" /></a>
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/t7WJAm.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/t7WJAm.png" alt="Planting seeds" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/wIQPOm.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/wIQPOm.jpg" alt="Prepare Soil" /></a>
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/GpVrGm.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/GpVrGm.png" alt="Celebrate the harvest" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-26T04:40:21.060Z
I for one think they are too elaborate to be pictograms.
L Parker
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-26T09:23:34.597Z
Which characters? These look more like actual pictures.
Olle Linge
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-26T16:26:55.383Z
They look like cave painting inspired modern art
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-31T17:34:47.190Z
It was the characters at the top of each picture i was wondering about.I thought they were rather strange for language characters as well but I thought maybe it was an old form of one of the chinese languages or something.  Thanks everyone for your help and thoughts
bannisterja
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-01T07:40:47.913Z
Is it perhaps [Dongba](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dongba_symbols) from the [Naxi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naxi_language) language? Maybe you bought it in [Lijiang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lijiang)?
Mou某
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-02T01:20:33.297Z
My gosh! i think you are right. I could not remember where bough tit in china and in retracing my steps of a 3 month trip back in 2005 i completely forgot I was in Lijiang  - I had to look it up and remembered it right away and why we went there. WOW! thank you so much for figuring this out - you helped L. Parker find the other info below! I am going to treasure these piece of art even more and will create info to put on the back of them so I can tell people more about them now.  You have no idea what this means to me so thank you.
bannisterja
<meaning><characters><character-identification>
Chinese characters on original Art (Painting and Litho on Wood) I bought in China
# Chinese characters on original Art (Painting and Litho on Wood) I bought in China

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-05-26)

Does anyone know what the chinese characters say on these pictures? I bought them in China while visiting a few years ago and everyone always asks me what they mean. I love them but would love to know what they actually say - - assume it says what is in the painting but can anyone help me on this? Four pictures with Each picture depicting a stage of farming food. ...sorry i do not have them in the right order but very clear which picture is for which farming season.

[![Harvest](https://i.sstatic.net/80aALm.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/80aALm.png)
[![Planting seeds](https://i.sstatic.net/t7WJAm.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/t7WJAm.png)

[![Prepare Soil](https://i.sstatic.net/wIQPOm.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/wIQPOm.jpg)
[![Celebrate the harvest](https://i.sstatic.net/GpVrGm.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/GpVrGm.png)

**Tags:** meaning, characters, character-identification

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I for one think they are too elaborate to be pictograms.  
> **username_2**: Which characters? These look more like actual pictures.  
> **username_3**: They look like cave painting inspired modern art  
> **username_0**: It was the characters at the top of each picture i was wondering about.I thought they were rather strange for language characters as well but I thought maybe it was an old form of one of the chinese languages or something.  Thanks everyone for your help and thoughts  
> **username_4**: Is it perhaps [Dongba](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dongba_symbols) from the [Naxi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naxi_language) language? Maybe you bought it in [Lijiang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lijiang)?  
> **username_0**: My gosh! i think you are right. I could not remember where bough tit in china and in retracing my steps of a 3 month trip back in 2005 i completely forgot I was in Lijiang  - I had to look it up and remembered it right away and why we went there. WOW! thank you so much for figuring this out - you helped L. username_1 find the other info below! I am going to treasure these piece of art even more and will create info to put on the back of them so I can tell people more about them now.  You have no idea what this means to me so thank you.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-06-01. Score: 3

Thanks to @username_4's excellent observation, I looked up a copybook of Naxi pictographs (He 2003) and was able to identify the following:

0. The pictographs (Dongba script) are the writing system of the [Naxi language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naxi_language).
1. **The pictographs on the left are the four seasons. They are compound ideographs.**

   |  | Compound ideograph | Components = [sky](https://i.sstatic.net/MOvJs.png)sky + | Pronunciation |
   | --- | --- | --- | --- |
   | Spring | [spring](https://i.sstatic.net/0FnbI.png) | [wind](https://i.sstatic.net/i9APf.png)wind\* | mɯ33 ɲi21 |
   | Summer | [summer](https://i.sstatic.net/xchTu.png) | [rain](https://i.sstatic.net/R48TC.png)rain | mɯ33 ʐu21 |
   | Autumn | [autumn](https://i.sstatic.net/CJC6u.png) | [flower](https://i.sstatic.net/8UZWD.png)flower and [land](https://i.sstatic.net/AzRg3.png)land | mɯ3[3] tʂʰv̩55 |
   | Winter | [winter](https://i.sstatic.net/EaVKC.png) | [snow](https://i.sstatic.net/nrYrh.png)snow | mɯ33 tʂʰɹ̩31 |

   So spring means 'the season of wind', summer 'the season of rain', autumn 'the season of flowers blossoming', and winter 'the season of snow' (Fang 1981:106-107).
2. **The pictographs on the right are human activities. They should correspond with the seasons.†**

   | Collocated with | Pictogram | Pronunciation | Meaning |
   | --- | --- | --- | --- |
   | Spring | [sow](https://i.sstatic.net/nr0MB.png) | pʰv̩55 | to sow |
   | Summer‡ | [channel water](https://i.sstatic.net/wSIfA.png) | ʂɻ̩21 | to channel water |
   | Autumn | [pull out](https://i.sstatic.net/IGxbG.png) | pər21 | to pull out (crops) |
   | Winter‡ | [sing](https://i.sstatic.net/7fsbN.png) | dzər33 | to sing |

**Footnotes**

\* According to Fang (1981:106).

† In particular, those with a pointy hat [![woman](https://i.sstatic.net/yAR6q.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/yAR6q.png) mean they are women.

‡ I am not sure if these are the correct pictograms.

**References**

1. 和力民（2003）納西象形文字字帖。昆明：雲南民族出版社。
2. 方國瑜（1981）納西象形文字譜。昆明：雲南人民出版社。

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: Although, I would perhaps disagree with the statement *they are too elaborate to be pictograms of Chinese*. Shang/Zhou bronzes have glyphs which are quite amusing - [this one](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/jinwen?kaiOrder=62278), I believe, is a clan icon.  
> **username_1**: @username_5 thanks. I never knew this! It’s just that the Dongba script strikes me as being more “Egyptian hieroglyphic” (not “elaborate”) than the usual oracle scripts in Chinese.  
> **username_0**: WOW you all are amazing!! i searched like you would not believe trying to figure all of this out and what you have figured out together is amazing! all i can do is say WOW, AMAZING AND THANK YOU!.  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2021-05-31. Score: 0

They are 象形文字 (Hieroglyphs) inspired modern art

Too much information in these drawings to be a simple character. They are more a story than words

1. Either a river flows from a mountain or rain fell from a cloud, and a person is digging the soil with a hoe
   [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/h33mT.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/h33mT.jpg)
2. Either a river flows from a mountain or a field near the mountain, and a person is planting seeds
   [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/h584x.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/h584x.png)
3. looks like a person with a headdress or sun hat (Priest or farmer) is offering rice plant to an altar or a temple
   [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/qMlAI.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/qMlAI.png)
4. either a picture of people keeping birds (chicken maybe) or people storing grains in a storage house
   [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/f5SN3.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/f5SN3.png)

These drawings depict the development of a farming community


---

