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Kanji same as simplified Chinese?[edit]

Why is the Japanese kanji the same as the Chinese simplified character? Aren't kanji based on traditional Chinese characters? 09:00, 1 December 2005 (UTC)

Can this be explained? 02:17, 16 September 2007 (UTC)

Yes, the Japanese simplification was based on traditional Chinese characters. Cynewulf 21:14, 18 September 2007 (UTC)
Most Simplified characters are based on the handwritten forms that even Traditional users use. In this case, the Traditional and Simplified characters are two separate characters that have the same meaning and pronunciation. The Simplified one is an ideogram of a king within his borders, while the Traditional one show "one language" and a sword with a banner and a drop of blood, signifying the first person, within borders. Simplified simply stopped using the more complex one. The Japanese, on the other hand, borrowed both characters centuries ago, long before there was a Simplified style. In Japanese, the complex character is rarely used. —Stephen 10:06, 28 September 2007 (UTC)