Written Chinese is considered one of the oldest written languages to date. Chinese characters have been traced back to 1500 BCE. However, some modern day symbols have been dated back to 6600 BCE. Chinese language has been an ever-changing language. To find this still used symbol today is no small feat.

As you see to the left, the character 馬, or horse, has evolved exponentially over the centuries of the Chinese language.

The original characters at the very top were pictures of the animal. As you may see, it is a drawing of a horse on its rear legs. The next one was also a picture of a horse, but it looks slightly more like Chinese characters now. The next one is called the "seal," for their neat square printer-like appearance. This is the first form of the Chinese character "horse." The fourth character is known as the "clerical" form of Chinese writing. The last two are today's characters of horse, with different writing styl. Both are accepted today in the Chinese society.

Here is the evolution of the word or dragon