Editing Chinese language (section)

=== Classical and vernacular written forms ===
{{Main|Classical Chinese|Written vernacular Chinese}}
The complex relationship between spoken and written Chinese is an example of [[diglossia]]: as spoken, Chinese varieties have evolved at different rates, while the written language used throughout China changed comparatively little, crystallizing into a prestige form known as [[Classical Chinese|Classical or Literary Chinese]]. Literature written distinctly in the Classical form began to emerge during the [[Spring and Autumn period]]. Its use in writing remained nearly universal until the late 19th century, culminating with the widespread adoption of [[written vernacular Chinese]] with the [[May Fourth Movement]] beginning in 1919.