CJK Unified Ideographs Extension B Unicode Block

The CJK Unified Ideographs Extension B block is a significant extension of the Unicode standard, designed to encompass a vast array of Han characters used across various East Asian languages. This block ranges from U+20000 to U+2A6DF and includes over 42,000 characters. These additional ideographs build upon the foundation established by the basic CJK Unified Ideographs block, which primarily covers modern, commonly used characters. Extension B is notable for providing coverage for historical texts, rare, and dialect-specific characters, facilitating the digitization and preservation of literary and cultural heritage within the scope of languages using Han characters, such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese (Chu Nom). This extension is crucial for scholars and researchers studying ancient scripts and texts, allowing for greater accessibility and analysis in digital formats.

The inclusion of Extension B in Unicode addresses the need for a comprehensive encoding system that supports the linguistic diversity inherent in Han-character-using regions. Its creation was influenced by the IRG (Ideographic Rapporteur Group), which works to continually refine and expand the representation of Han characters, thus supporting textual works from different historical periods and geographic areas. The block not only aids in the academic analysis of historical documents but also supports modern applications such as database indexing, typesetting, and online publication that require a rich and detailed character set. Moreover, by accommodating less common and obsolete characters, CJK Unified Ideographs Extension B helps safeguard against the loss of cultural information, ensuring that the unique characteristics of various dialects and historical periods remain accessible for future generations.

View a range of fonts that support the CJK Unified Ideographs Extension B block.

Below you will find all the characters that are in the CJK Unified Ideographs Extension B unicode block. Currently there are 42720 characters in this block.