Dongba symbols

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Dongba symbols are a system of pictographic and ideographic glyphs used by the Naxi people of southern China, mainly by the Dongba priests. In Naxi, the script is called “wood records” or “stone records.” The first artifacts date to about 30 CE. The script is mostly mnemonic and cannot by itself write the Naxi language; the same glyph can have different meanings in different texts, and authors often use the geba syllabary to help clarify things.

Origins and use
Dongba myths say the script was created by Tönpa Shenrab, the founder of the Bön tradition, while Naxi genealogies credit a 13th‑century king named Móubǎo Āzōng. Chinese records show it was in use by the 7th century and became common among the Naxi by the Song dynasty. Today it is still used in some places and remains the world’s only actively maintained pictographic writing system.

Name and purpose
The script is also called Les Mo-So in ethnographic writing. The name Dongba means “Priest.” After 1949, the use of Dongba was discouraged in China, and a Latin-based Naxi script was introduced in 1957. During the Cultural Revolution many manuscripts were destroyed, and some surviving Dongba works ended up overseas. Today China is trying to revive Dongba as a cultural symbol and part of Naxi heritage.

How it works
Dongba is both pictorial and ideographic. There are about a thousand glyphs, and new ones can be created. A single glyph can stand for objects, ideas, or even actions, and a text may use multiple meanings for the same symbol depending on context. Glyphs are often combined to form phrases or ideas, and writers usually record only key words. Some glyphs act as rebuses, standing for sounds or for related words.

Examples
- A drawing of two eyes can represent fate.
- A rice bowl can mean food or sleep.
- A picture of a goral can stand for a specific grammatical particle.

Script forms and writing
There are two historical variants of the Dongba script, sometimes named in scholarly works. The Naxi name for the script—“wood and stone records”—reflects its origins, when it was carved on stone or wood.

Materials and format
Originally carved on stone and wood, Dongba text today is often written on handmade paper made from Daphne tangutica and Daphne retusa. Sheets are typically about 28 by 14 cm (11 by 5.5 inches) and are sewn together at the left edge to form a small book. The pages are divided by four horizontal lines. Glyphs are written left to right and top to bottom, with vertical lines used to separate sections. Writing tools include bamboo pens and black ink made from ash.

Uses today
Dongba remains in religious use for ceremonial chants and rituals. It also appears in art, crafts, and tourism, where it serves as a cultural symbol of the Naxi people. While it may not be used for daily writing, it continues to play an important role in Naxi identity and heritage.