When did simplified Chinese characters begin to be used?

Simplified Chinese characters began to be used in 1956.

The principles of simplification of Chinese characters are: "state without writing", "convention and steady progress", that is to say, try to use simplified characters that have been popular among the people for a long time, only collect and organize and make necessary modifications, and do not make unauthorized changes. Make words.

In 1964, the State Council announced the "General List of Simplified Characters". The first list contains 352 simplified characters that are not used as radicals, the second list contains 132 simplified characters that can be used as simplified radicals, and the third list contains 132 simplified characters that can be used as simplified radicals. By analogy with the second table, there are 1754 characters and ***2236 characters. This is the simplified Chinese character commonly used in mainland China today.

Extended information

After the implementation of simplified Chinese characters, many people cannot understand the calligraphy and painting, ancient books, and inscriptions on historical sites of the past. This will cause a cultural gap, so "literacy" is advocated. Complex should be simplified." That is to say, we are encouraged to write simplified Chinese characters, but we need to know more traditional Chinese characters. Just like after implementing the vernacular, you still have to read classical Chinese. Traditional Chinese characters are often seen on many signboards in mainland China, such as Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, China Southern Airlines, and "Macro_" Computer. Most Christmas cards and New Year's cards are in traditional Chinese characters, and plaques and calligraphy coexist in both traditional and simplified Chinese characters.

In Beijing, the "China Haidian Book Mall" large signboard and Peking University's "Art College" have large embossed characters. Many signs use traditional Chinese characters for aesthetic reasons. However, textbooks, publishing houses, television, etc. all use simplified Chinese characters, but publishers of ancient books also use traditional Chinese characters.

As a unique art: Chinese calligraphy has not been restricted by simplified characters in mainland China. Because calligraphy is an art, and it is a unique art form in the world and a treasure of Chinese culture. The function of art is not to convey information and record history, so there is no need to use simplified Chinese characters. In fact, the art of cursive writing is originally about simplified characters. It is not easy to artistically simplify a multi-stroke character and then express its beautiful form, and this in itself is an artistic re-creation.

Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia-Simplified Chinese