In this revolutionary new approach to learning one of the oldest written languages, the author creates a simple system for quickly understanding the basic building blocks of written Chinese by transforming Chinese characters into easy-to-remember pictograms. -Publisher's description.

"Author and concept: ShaoLan Hsueh"--Title page verso. "Quickly learn over 400 essential characters"--Cover. Includes index. Chinese collection.

Introduction. The calligrapher's daughter ; How to use the book -- The basics. Building blocks, compounds, phrases ; Advanced sentences -- Story. Peter and the wolf -- Reference. Building block plates ; Index of characters and phrases.