[An analysis of Gestalt characteristics of 881 Japanese/Chinese Kanji].

The Gestalt characteristics of 881 Kanji were rated on each of 10 SD-like scales by 554 subjects. High reliability was found for all rating scales. Principal component analysis of the mean rating values of the Kanji for each scale showed eight of the ten scales to be appropriate for the measurement. The appropriate scales were: complexity, compactness, elongation, openness, straightness, roundness, stability, and symmetry.