The Discovery Of Genesis

tion of the ideograph. Hence, if in truth, many characters
arc based on a common knowledge of historical
fact, one not acquainted with the Biblical Genesis
would not be in a position to interpret them.
Looking at the language purely from a phonetic
viewpoint it would appear that some words were either
given the same “sound” as intentional inventions, or
naturally evolved in the course of developing spoken
language, since they concern closely related subjects.
Many words doubtless began as “slang” or colloquial
expressions. Let us examine an English illustration first,
the word, AIR. Originally this word must have indicated
the atmospheric gas which one breathes. To air something
out, means to freshen it in the air, or dry it out; an
air can be melody or tune (possibly originally whistled
into the air); one can air or publicize an opinion (in the
open); one can go on the air (broadcast by radio waves);
something in the air is about to happen, but is not yet
apparent; one can be up in the air and be unsettled or
angry; or one can walk on air and be happy and
exuberant. Thus the phonetic sound, AIR, can take on
a multitude of meanings. but all can be obviously and
meaning fully derived from an original simple word
association.
In like manner, is it not conceivable that the same
phonetic sound in Chinese can be equated with related
subjects? For example the word “T’IEN”: perhaps
originally “t’ien” indicated heaven A and was therefore
also equated with God, the Heavenly Ruler or Shang-
Ti. The first meeting place of God with man was the
Garden (t’ien) W of Eden, the home of the first lords of
the earth, Adam plausible that