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( a script )
| Type of script: | Syllabary |
|---|---|
| Script category: | Sinitic scripts |
| Period of use: | 600 - 1200 |
| Parent script: | Chinese script (show family tree) |
| Names: | Man'yoogana |
When the Japanese started using the Chinese characters to write their language, they needed to be able to write not just complete words, but also sounds (particularly for inflections). For this purpose they used a set of Chinese characters which were used for their sound, rather than for their meaning. This set of characters is the man'yoogana.
The following scripts were created based on this script (show family tree):