Chinese writing dates back to over 5000 years ago. Chinese characters evolved from pictographs to more abstract ideograms to the modern-day character, which bears a slight resemblance to its pictographic origins. The characters are divided into 3 main categories : pictographs , ideograms , phonograms. Since 2017 is the Year of the Rooster/Chicken, I will show you the progression. "Chicken/rooster" 雞 is a pictograph. You can see the evolution of the character with my calligraphy on the left: from the pictorial seal script (the first one at the top) to the modern day character (the second one) and also in my grass style which is equivalent to freestyle cursive( the third one). Notice the seal with the little chicks? I carved it myself : )