Traditional and Simplified Writing

In mainland China a simplified writing system is used，whereas in Hong Kong，Taiwan，and overseas regions the traditional script is being used.Starting from the second half of the 19th century，there was a growing consensus that the writing system constituted an obstacle to the achievement of a higher literacy rate.The simplified writing system differs in two ways from the traditional writing system：① a reduction of the number of strokes per character and ② the reduction of the number of characters in common use（two different characters are now written with the same character）.A large-scale reform was continued after the founding of the PRC.

One thousand fifty-three variant characters were eliminated in 1955.In 1956，The Scheme of Simplified Chinese Characters，known later as the First Scheme，was promulgated by the PRC government.It was composed of 515 simplified characters and 54 simplified basic components of characters.The Second Scheme of Simplified Chinese Characters was promulgated in 1977 but was repealed in 1986 amid general disapproval.

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