In Chinese writing, sometimes the beginning of a vertical line does not align neatly with the others but is slightly indented. This is actually the same as horizontal writing, where the first line of a paragraph is indented, roughly equivalent to leaving two spaces. It serves to mark the beginning of a new paragraph, not as a typographical error.
One distinctive feature of Chinese characters is that they are square-shaped logograms. Since each character is a self-contained block, they can be arranged either horizontally or vertically without affecting readability. This gives Chinese writing a unique flexibility in layout.
In ancient times, Chinese texts, inscriptions, and classics were almost always written vertically, and the reading order was from top to bottom, and from right to left. In other words, a reader would first read the rightmost column from top to bottom, then move leftward to the next column, and so on. This style remained dominant through the Ming and Qing dynasties and even into modern times.
In the mid-20th century, mainland China gradually adopted horizontal writing in order to align with international publishing standards. However, in Taiwan and Hong Kong, although most modern publications (such as newspapers, magazines, and textbooks) also use horizontal layouts, vertical typesetting is still found in specific contexts—for example, in literary works, poetry collections, reprints of classical texts, and sometimes in newspaper supplements. The use of vertical traditional Chinese writing often conveys a sense of cultural continuity and classical atmosphere.
Thus, one of the key advantages of Chinese characters is their dual adaptability: horizontal writing supports modern communication and international integration, while vertical writing preserves longstanding traditions and cultural heritage.
