Script of the Week: Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum script converter

Chrysanthemum script converted text: “Sensitive words can avoid being harmonized. Freedom of speech is a must!” (anliu/

菊花文 (júhuā wén): chrysanthemum script

Coded writing using the Combining Cyrillic Millions character ( ҉  ; Unicode: U+0489). Typically used in bi-directional text, where both left-to-right and right-to-left scripts are used simultaneously, Chinese netizens have employed ҉ to obscure sensitive online discussion.

When Combining Cyrillic Millions ( ҉ ) is inserted between each character in a word or phrase, the ҉ overlays each character, making it difficult to automate censorship. Online converters allow Internet users to create chrysanthemum script automatically.

҉ used to be blocked on Weibo, but is now searchable. It appears that using chrysanthemum script either have fallen out of fashion, or is no longer a viable technique to skirt censorship.

See also Martian script.
