Kana Lua error in Module:Unicode_data at line 293: attempt to index local 'data_module' (a boolean value). is the name for syllable-based writing systems used in the Japanese language.
There are three types of kana:
- Manyogana Lua error in Module:Unicode_data at line 293: attempt to index local 'data_module' (a boolean value). is the use of Chinese characters (or kanji) to represent each sound in spoken Japanese.
- Hiragana Lua error in Module:Unicode_data at line 293: attempt to index local 'data_module' (a boolean value). is the script used to write native Japanese words and grammatical elements.
- Katakana Lua error in Module:Unicode_data at line 293: attempt to index local 'data_module' (a boolean value). is the script used to write loanwords (or gairaigo) and onomatopoeia.
Although manyogana is the oldest of the three types of kana, being used as early as the seventh century, it was soon replaced by hiragana and katakana. Both of these characters came from the kanji characters that made up manyogana.