Prof. YANG RuoweiHo, KailungKailungHo2026-06-252026-06-252025Yang, R., & Ho, K. (13 Jul 2025). Transformation and appropriation in the development of writing systems in inner Asia during the middle ages. 13th European Conference on Arts & Humanities (ECAH2025), London, United Kingdom.http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11861/27748The study of influences of Chinese characters on other writing forms in East and South Asia occupies a central position in the field of Chinese Character Sinosphere, a concept proposed by Japanese scholars in the late 1960s. Chinese writings had been appropriated, transformed and developed by vast areas of Asia throughout history. Except for the writing forms of Japan and Korea in East Asia, and the writing form of Vietnamese in South Asia, the impact of Chinese characters on neighboring regions in North Asia, namely the Mongolian steppes of Inner Asia, has received rare attention in the study of the Chinese Character Sinosphere. Based on the two forms of the Khitan scripts invented in the 10th century - which were no longer understood after the demise of the Khitan-Liao dynasty, and which only came to light on the unearthed inscriptions in the last century - large scripts (thousands of basic units) and small scripts (hundreds of basic units), this study analyzes the transformation and absorption of Chinese writing forms embodied in Khitan scripts, explores their connection with Chinese scripts, and discusses the contribution of the Chinese writing form to the development of Khitan scripts, which further influenced and contributed to the Jurchen scripts created in the 12th century, thus demonstrating the transformation and appropriation between North Asian writing systems. It provides evidence for general discussions of theoretical concepts concerning cultural appropriation.enConference Paper